Health Care Utilization Profiles in Young Ukrainian Refugee Children

What distinct latent profiles of short-term health care needs were identified among Ukrainian refugee children, aged 5 years and under, who used the health care system in Southern Poland in 2022? This cohort study identified 5 distinct health care utilization profiles among 9845 Ukrainian refugee children, ranging from low-intensity primary care to intensive hospital and emergency use, with earlier health care system entry among children requiring hospitalization for infectious diseases or emergency care for injuries. These findings suggest that refugee-hosting countries must be prepared to rapidly adapt health care resources, prioritizing emergency and inpatient care in the initial months following a crisis.

Corresponding Author: Iwona A. Bielska, PhD, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University, 8 Skawinska St, 31-066 Krakow, Poland (iwona.bielska@uj.edu.pl).

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