Health problems and healthcare needs among youth in Swedish secure residential care

• International research has consistently reported that youth in secure residential care have high rates of somatic/dental health problems. Here, we report results from the first such study in a Nordic country. An experienced paediatrician performed systematic somatic and rudimentary dental health assessments of 91 youths, age 13-17, recently admitted to four secure residential units in Sweden. Girls were oversampled. Participants were tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). We found large unmet needs of health/dental care, similar to reports from other countries: 75% of the girls and 53% of the boys had at least one previously known health problem that was poorly followed up or was unknown before the assessment. Over 40% of the girls had severe dental decay. Only two cases of STD were identified (Chlamydia). Some 91% of the girls and 64% of the boys were referred to a health or a dental care clinic.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

health

dental health

health assessment

young offenders

juvenile delinquents

residential care

Sweden

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)