Abstract
OP 31: REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS 6, B207 (FCSH), SEPTEMBER 5, 2025, 09:00 - 10:00: AIM: To assess the impact of a new tuberculosis-infection (TBI) policy on the screening uptake in asylum-seeking children under 12 years of age. The tuberculosis (TB) entry-screening changed from using chest radiography at the central reception centre (COL) to a TBI screening at one of the 25 regional public health services (PHS). METHODS: The screening uptake was analysed using data from the national TB registration system over a one-year period starting at 1 July 2023. Implementation issues were identified using an online survey and semi-structured interviews among TB health workers. RESULTS: Of the 1112 eligible children from countries with a TB incidence > 50/100.000 people, 816 (73%) were invited for a screening using a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). The TST was administered to 472 children (43%), 460 returned for reading the test. A total of 41% thus completed the screening. According to health workers the main impacts of TBI screening were: the new screening policy was time-consuming for parents and children; the need for parents and children to travel at least twice to a PHS; the frequent relocations of asylum seekers; language barriers. Because of the low uptake and the relocations children had to be re-invited. This was an administrative burden to the health workers . CONCLUSION: The percentage of children completing the screening is relatively low. There are various barriers identified by health workers including the need for parents and children to travel several times to a PHS, the relocations and language barriers. To assess the impact of this new policy in parents and children participative research is needed.