Senegal: migrant health guide
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Senegal for healthcare practitioners.
Main messages
If the patient is new to the UK:
- explain to them how the NHS works and their entitlements to healthcare
- discuss how this compares to the healthcare system they’ve been used to
- follow guidance on how to comprehensively assess new migrant patients
- ensure that they are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule
- ask about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin
Screen all new entrants, including children, for tuberculosis (TB).
Due to a high prevalence, consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
The prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is high.
There is a high risk of malaria.
There is a high risk of typhoid infection.
Consider nutritional and metabolic concerns.
Infectious diseases
Immunisation
Ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule. See Immunisation collection with complete schedules.
Tuberculosis
There is a high incidence of TB (40 to 499 cases per 100,000), so:
- screen all new entrants (including children) for TB according to NICE guidelines
- refer to TB services promptly if screening is positive
- maintain long term vigilance for symptoms of TB even if initial screening is negative
- be aware that TB is a notifiable disease
Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Take a sexual history, and:
- screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards and guidelines
- test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia
There is a low rate of HIV (less than or equal to 1%), so offer and recommend an HIV test if the patient:
- falls into a high risk group
- is newly registering in a high prevalence area
HTLV
The prevalence of HTLV is high. Refer to further HTLV guidance about testing and treatment.
Hepatitis B
There is a high prevalence of hepatitis B, so:
- consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly those who have recently arrived
- offer screening for hepatitis B to all pregnant women during each pregnancy
- immunise appropriately babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive, and follow up accordingly
- be aware that the UK has a universal infant immunisation programme for hepatitis B and a selective immunisation programme for higher risk groups
Hepatitis C
Senegal has a higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so consider screening for hepatitis C if other risk factors apply.
Malaria
There is a high risk of malaria, mainly due to P. falciparum, so:
- test any unwell patient who has travelled to-and-from affected areas in the last year
- remember that malaria can be rapidly fatal
Typhoid
There is a high risk of typhoid infection, so:
- ensure that travellers are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fever
- remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to or from this country
Helminths
There is a risk of soil transmitted helminth infections.
Travel plans and advice
Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin. People who travel to visit friends and relatives (VFR travellers) should visit the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for overseas travel advice and National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) for country specific travel advice prior to leaving the UK.
Nutritional and metabolic concerns
Anaemia
There is a high risk of anaemia in adults (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is over 40%) and pre-school children (estimated prevalence is over 40%), so:
- be alert to the possibility of anaemia in recently arrived migrants, particularly women and pre-school children
- test as clinically indicated
Vitamin D
Consider the possibility of vitamin D deficiency in people who may be at risk due to:
- darker skin
- those who are not often outdoors
- those who cover up most of their skin when outdoors
Vitamin A
There may be a risk of vitamin A deficiency.
Women’s health
Reproductive health indicators
| Reproductive health indicator | UK | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| Number of children per woman (lifetime average) | 1.7 | 4.6 |
| Use of contraception (by woman of reproductive age or partner) | 71.7% | 27.8% |
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
FGM has regularly been documented in Senegal.
Country profile
Health indicators and health care
WHO Global Health Observatory has a summary of health indicators and health care in Senegal.
Culture, politics and history
BBC News and The World Factbook provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Senegal.
Languages
The main languages used in Senegal are:
- French (official)
- Wolof
- Pular
- Jola
- Mandinka
- Serer
- Soninke
Source: The World Factbook.
Religions
| Religion | Population (%) |
|---|---|
| Muslim (most adhere to 1 of the 4 main Sufi brotherhoods) | 95.9 |
| Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) | 4.1 |
Source: The World Factbook.
Migration to the UK
There were almost 2,000 people from Senegal living in England and Wales at the time of the 2011 Census.
Source: Office for National Statistics.
Updates to this page
Published 31 July 2014Last updated 16 November 2021 + show all updates
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Updated country guidance on prevalence of communicable diseases and other health topics.
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First published.