Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies Among Populations of Newly Arriving Government Assisted Refugee Children to Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

This study examined the variation among ethnic populations in prevalence of anemia, vitamin D and B12 deficiencies among refugee children. A retrospective chart review of 388 government assisted refugee children ≤ 16 years of age, seen at the Refugee Health Clinic in Kitchener, Canada from January 2009 to December 2014 was conducted. Vitamin D levels were only collected until December 1st 2010 (116 children). 15.7% were anemic (25% < 5 years, 8.7% 5–11 years, and 18.3% 12–16 years old) with Somali children having the lowest hemoglobin levels compared to those from Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar. 53.5% were vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L), seen most commonly in Iraqis and Afghans. 11.2% had vitamin B12 levels < 150 pmol/L. Providers’ knowledge of prevalence of nutritional deficiencies related to region of origin, can guide appropriate screening and treatment options to promote longer term cognitive, physical and developmental health.

Keywords

Refugee Children Nutrition deficiency Canada 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of NursingWestern UniversityLondonCanada
  2. 2.School of NursingMcMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
  3. 3.LondonCanada
  4. 4.Centre for Family Medicine Refugee Health ClinicWaterlooCanada
  5. 5.Family Medicine McMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
  6. 6.Family Medicine Western UniversityLondonCanada

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