Gesundheitsstatus und Traumafolgestörungen bei syrischen Flüchtlingskindern

Ellert, Seval (2022): Gesundheitsstatus und Traumafolgestörungen bei syrischen Flüchtlingskindern: Theoretische Annäherung und empirische Ergebnisse aus einer Vollerhebung in München im Kontext von Flucht, Trauma, Familie und Gesundheit. Dissertation, LMU München: Medizinische Fakultät

Abstract

Background: The ongoing war in Syria has forced millions of Syrians to search for refuge in Europe. In the last 7 years over 1 Million have immigrated to Germany. The war in their home country, conditions during their flight, as well as sub-standard living conditions in the reception camps, are all potentially traumatic events and health risks for both adults and children. Objective: This study investigated the overall mental and somatic health of refugee children from Syria in Munich/Germany at the largest European intake center. Additionally, the parents have been interviewed on their health status, for detailed information about their refugee journey and on conditions in the intake center. The correlations between the details of the refugee journey as well as the results of the health examinations have been calculated by controlling existing trauma risk-moderators, with a focus on the children’s trauma diagnosis. Method: A complete census of Syrian refugee children with their families in an intake center in Germany (N=130) was assessed directly after arrival with over 1000 test variables and comprehensive clinical interviews testing for state of physical and psychological health, refugee journey details and risk moderators. Results: The central result was that 29% of the children had post-traumatic stress disorder and another 21% suffered from adaptation disorder due to the clinical trauma interview. The different flight routes (land, sea, air) had either little or no influence on the trauma diagnosis. In contrast, specific circumstances during the flight correlated with the results of the trauma diagnosis. In addition, 63% of the children were diagnosed with dental caries, 25% suffered from lung diseases and 11% from an infectious diseases. 42% of all children who participated in the study were not vaccinated according to the European vaccination plan. The majority of parents suffered from sleep disorders and neurological headaches. Implications: The results demonstrate clearly the need for early intervention systems with respect to refugee children’s health. The situation demands mental health care for the high PTSD rates as well as broad-range medical health care on sight, in order to remedy the urgent health needs of children and their parents. Sustainable, culture sensitive and professional medical and psychological services are needed. The earlier, the better.

• Dokumententyp: Dissertationen (Dissertation, LMU München)
• Keywords: Refugee, PTSD, Trauma, Children, Mental Health
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften ; 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• Fakultäten: Medizinische Fakultät
• Sprache der Hochschulschrift: Deutsch
• Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: 6. April 2022
• 1. Bericht­erstatter:in: Merrow, Martha