Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain

Abstract

Background: Migrants are disproportionately affected by several infectious diseases differing the risk within migrant groups. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of six chronic infections in asymptomatic migrants attended at primary care or specialized units where health assessments are offered.

Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus, Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma spp., and Trypanosoma cruzi infections in the migrant population who participated in a screening programme implemented at six primary health care centres, and two infectious diseases outpatient clinics in Catalonia, Spain.

Results: Of the 314 recruited migrants, 284 (90.4 %) were tested for at least one infection. The prevalence of the infections was as follows: 1.8 % for HIV, 1.8 % for chronic hepatitis B virus, 14.1 % for previous exposure to a hepatitis B virus infection, 0.4 % for hepatitis C virus infection, 2.6 % for S.stercoralis infection, and 7.0 % for T.cruzi infection. No cases infected with Schistosoma spp. were reported. A higher prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus was observed in Sub-Saharan Africans, whereas a higher prevalence of S.stercoralis and T.cruzi infections was reported in migrants from Latin-America and the Caribbean.

Conclusion: Findings suggest a high burden of the studied infections, including parasitic infections, in the migrant population with variations within migrant groups based on areas of birth.

Keywords: Imported diseases; Infectious diseases; Migrants; Prevalence; Screening; Travel-related illnesses.

Fig. 1

Flow chart of the study population.