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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 1/2017

01-02-2017 | Original Paper

Risk Factors for Varicella Susceptibility Among Refugees to Toronto, Canada

Authors: Geneviève Cadieux, Vanessa Redditt, Daniela Graziano, Meb Rashid

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Several outbreaks of varicella have occurred among refugees. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of varicella susceptibility among refugees, and identify risk factors for varicella susceptibility. All refugees rostered at Crossroads Clinic in Toronto, Canada in 2011–2014 were included in our study. Varicella serology was assessed at the initial visit. Refugees’ age, sex, education, time since arrival, and climate and population density of birth country were abstracted from the chart. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for varicella susceptibility. 1063 refugees were rostered at Crossroads Clinic during the study; 7.9 % (95 % CI 6.1, 9.7) were susceptible to varicella. Tropical climate (OR 3.20, 95 % CI 1.53, 6.69) and younger age (ORper year of age 0.92, 95 % CI 0.88–0.96) were associated with increased varicella susceptibility. These risk factors for varicella susceptibility should be taken into account to maximize the cost-effectiveness of varicella prevention strategies among refugees.
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Metadata
Title
Risk Factors for Varicella Susceptibility Among Refugees to Toronto, Canada
Authors
Geneviève Cadieux
Vanessa Redditt
Daniela Graziano
Meb Rashid
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0313-y

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