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A Structured Health Reception Programme in Primary Care for Asylum Seekers: Preliminary Clinical, Preventive, Service-Use and Psychosocial Findings

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Asylum seekers may have heterogeneous clinical and preventive needs and face difficulties in finding their way through an unfamiliar health system. This study reports a preliminary cross-sectional analysis of a structured Health Reception Programme (Programa de Acogida Sanitaria, PAS) embedded in primary care within an ongoing mixed-methods project. Methods: The study was conducted in Seville, Spain, among participants whose initial PAS consultations took place between January and October 2025, with an interim analytical database cut-off in September 2026. The cohort included 122 participants. Results: Relevant infectious processes, vaccination needs, anemia, iron status, extended PAS use, and migratory grief were assessed. A relevant infectious process was detected in 26/121 participants (21.5%; 95% CI 15.1–29.6), and at least one vaccination need in 74/120 (61.7%; 52.7–69.9). Anemia was recorded in 12/122 (9.8%; 5.7–16.4), while 56/120 (46.7%; 38.0–55.6) had non-normal iron status, including 41 participants classified as having iron deficiency. Of the 12 participants with anemia, 11 were classified as having iron deficiency, whereas 30 of the 41 participants with iron deficiency did not have anemia. Female sex was associated with anemia, whereas increasing age was associated with lower odds of non-normal iron status. Thirty-five participants (28.7%) had four or more consultations. Psychosocial findings were exploratory. Conclusions: Overall, the findings support a prevention-oriented, risk-adapted primary-care reception pathway that identifies clinical needs beyond infectious-disease screening. Organizational health-literacy responsiveness requires direct evaluation.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare14213791

Authors: Sara Louise Gómez-Langley, Ainhoa Ruiz-Azarola, Henry Antonio Andrade-Ruiz

Institutions: Andalusian Health Service, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Andalusian School of Public Health, Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Gestión de la Investigación en Salud de Sevilla

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258