AUTHOR=Tofani Marco , Marceca Maurizio , Valente Donatella , Galeoto Giovanni , Ben Zina Mohamed Ali , Salhi Imène Soumaya , Elmadmad Khadija , Tak Tak Hind , Gosling Justine , Mishra Satish , Gazzaniga Valentina , Cilione Marco , Iorio Silvia 

TITLE=Disability and Migration Routes: An Explorative Analysis Among Refugees Hosted in Italy

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 69 - 2024

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1607821

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2024.1607821

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objective:Data on disability in refugees is lacking, hindering effectiveness of humanitarian response. We investigated disability condition in refugees, identifying possible mechanisms that affect their health Methods:The Washington Group Short Set-Enhanced was used to identify people at risk experiencing disability. Data on migration routes were collected and the relathionship with functioning limitations was explored.Results:483 refugees (58.18%males-41.82%female) were interviewed. 23.8% were found to have a disability, with a higher risk for those who travelled along the central Mediterranean route OR (95%CI) 2.08(1.33-3.24). Affect domain represented the main weight for disability (28.16%), followed by mobility limitation (8.28%). People who travelled across the central Mediterranean route were found to have a high risk of developing anxiety problems OR (95%CI) 2.19 (1.33-3.6), while people who crossed the Balkan route had a higher risk of mobility limitation OR (95%CI) 3.03 (1.23-7.44).This study provides the first available data on disability among refugees in Italy, revealing a high prevalence of disability and a significant association with migration routes. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health and rehabilitation interventions to address the specific vulnerabilities of this population.