Child migrant population morbidity in Piraeus

Abstract

The European migration crisis caused a major influx of migrants in our country. Prevention and control policies have been set on both a national and European level in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. These diseases depend on both the migrant’s country of origin and the countries transited during migration. The policies’ main purpose was to prevent infection among both migrant and local populations, given the fact that migrants may act as a reservoir of diseases thought extinct in developed countries. To this end we began monitoring child morbidity in Piraeus. Demographic and social elements were also inspected during this time. The final results indicated that children in migrant populations suffer from infections common to European countries, as a consequence of overcrowding and living in shelters under unsanitary conditions for long periods of time.

Keywords

• morbidity
• child
• migrants
• communicable diseases