Understanding the Health Care Needs of Refugees from Ukraine in Southern Poland - Abstract

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

Following the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this study describes evolving health care needs among Ukrainian refugees settled in southern Poland. It analyzes emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient clinic visits in Małopolska Voivodeship for 2022 and 2023, alongside ICD-10–categorized patient characteristics. In-depth interviews with refugee patients and health care providers (n=20) explore access to care, satisfaction, and barriers. Findings show changing care-seeking patterns by 2022–2023 and care utilization shaped by demographic profile.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

vi58 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.160 447 Understanding the Health Care Needs of Refugees from Ukraine in Southern Poland Konrad PeR dziwiatr1, Iwona Bielska2,3, Michał Wanke1, Svitlana LuchikMusiyezdova1 1 Krakow University of Economics, Krakow, Poland 2Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland 3McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada OP 24: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 2, B210 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:45-15:45 Aims: Following the 2022 full-scale invasion on Ukraine by Russia, an estimated million people sought refuge in Poland. Although studies were conducted to assess the individuals’ initial health status, little is known about their evolving needs. Thus, this study describes the health care needs among Ukrainian refugees in southern Poland, an important region of their settlement. Methods: Data on emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient clinic visits (2022, 2023) were examined in the Małopolska Voivodeship. Information on patient characteristics and medical?conditions, categorized using ICD-10 diagnoses, was analyzed.?Furthermore, in-depth interviews were conducted with refugee patients and health care providers (n ¼ 20) to explore access to care. Results: Changes in patient presentation were observed between 2022 and 2023, including a decrease in emergency department visitsand hospitalizations (8,171 and 6,924 vs. 4,820 and 5,329, respectively) . Injuries and infections were frequent reasons for seeking care?among children, while for adults, they were non-communicable diseases. Outpatient clinic visits increased from 24,419 to 28,215, with neoplasms and gynecological care being most common. The 2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi59 interviews identified overall satisfaction with the public health care system, but also pointed to certain challenges, including communication barriers, lack of medical documentation, and assistance sought in private clinics geared towards the needs of the refugeemigrant community. Conclusions: The demographic profile of the refugee population strongly influenced the patterns of health care utilization. The data uncovered the patient pathways, identifying medical services and key provider locations that can be better targeted to improve the migrants’ health care access in the region.

FAQs

What was the study’s main purpose?

To describe the evolving health care needs of Ukrainian refugees in southern Poland after the 2022 invasion.

How did the researchers investigate health care use and access?

They analyzed emergency, hospitalization, and outpatient data from 2022–2023 using ICD-10 diagnoses and conducted in-depth interviews with refugee patients and health care providers (n=20).

What key changes were observed between 2022 and 2023?

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations decreased, while outpatient clinic visits increased, with different common reasons by age group and care type.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa