A Comparative Investigation of Applications to Prehospital Emergency Health Services and Hospitals by Migrants and Refugees

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Immigrants and refugees experience deficiencies in sheltering, nutritional and health conditions. For these reasons, they have a higher risk of poor health the local population. This study aims to examine the applications made by refugees and migrants to emergency health services and secondary state hospitals in Artvin, a border city. Methods: Prehospital emergency health services data between 2018-2022 and secondary state hospital data between 2017-2020 were analyzed. The data used in the study were cross-sectional and decriptive in quantitative research design. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS 20.0 software program. In analyzing the data, frequency analysis was performed to define the variables and to display their distribution. Then, the chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between the variables. Results: The total number of applicants analyzed in the study was 8511. Of the prehospital admissions, 51.1% were male, and 61.2% were of Georgian nationality. In hospital admissions, 64.8% were female, 34.2% were of Georgian nationality, and 13.5% were of Azerbaijani nationality. Of the applications made to the secondary state hospital, 44.6% were made to the emergency service outpatient clinic and 10.4% to the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic. Conclusion: It was determined that the number of applications to health institutions by migrants and refugees increased in terms of number and rate. In addition, the utilization rate of emergency service outpatient clinics is high among migrants and refugees. In order to ease the burden on emergency services, more emphasis should be placed on preventive health services.