Seychelles: migrant health guide
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Seychelles for healthcare practitioners.
Main messages
If the patient is new to the UK:
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explain to them how the NHS works and their entitlements to healthcare
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discuss how this compares to the healthcare system they’ve been used to
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follow guidance on how to comprehensively assess new migrant patients
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ensure that they are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule
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ask about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin
The prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is high in Seychelles.
Due to an intermediate prevalence, consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
There is a 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 low incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Seychelles (<40 cases per 100,000), so:
- routine screening for TB is not required
- consider testing in patients (including children) who show signs and symptoms
- be aware that TB is a notifiable disease
Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Take other risk factors into consideration when assessing likely health needs relating to HIV and STIs (no data is available on HIV prevalence in Seychelles)
Hepatitis B
There is an intermediate 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
- appropriately immunise 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
The prevalence of hepatitis C is higher than the UK, so consider screening for hepatitis C if other risk factors apply.
Travel plans and advice
Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), or the Health Protection Scotland websites (TRAVAX and fitfortravel), for travel advice.
Typhoid
There is a risk of typhoid infection in Seychelles, so:
- ensure that travellers to Seychelles 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 Seychelles
Helminths
There is a risk of helminth infections in Seychelles, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis.
Reproductive health indicators
Reproductive health indicator | UK | Seychelles |
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Number of children per woman [note 1] | 1.7 | 2.3 |
Use of contraception [note 2] | 71.7% | 46.2% |
Note 1: lifetime average
Note 2: by woman of reproductive age or partner
Nutritional and metabolic concerns
Anaemia
There is a moderate risk of anaemia in adults (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is 20 to 40%) and pre-school children (estimated prevalence is 20 to 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:
- covering their body for cultural or religious reasons (lack of sunlight)
- skin colour
- diet (vegan or vegetarian)
Country profile
Health indicators and healthcare
WHO Global Health Observatory has a summary of health indicators and healthcare in Seychelles.
Culture, politics and history
BBC News and The World Factbook provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Seychelles.
Languages
Language | Population (%) |
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Seychellois Creole ¹ | 89.1 |
English² | 5.1 |
French³ | 0.7 |
Other | 3.8 |
Unspecified | 1.4 |
¹official; ²official; ³official
Source: The World Factbook.
Religion
Religion | Population (%) |
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Protestant ¹ | 10.6 |
Other Christian | 2.4 |
Hindu | 2.4 |
Muslim | 1.6 |
Other non-Christian | 1.1 |
Unspecified | 4.8 |
None | 0.9 |
¹Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6%
Source: The World Factbook.
Migration to the UK
There were almost 4,000 people from Seychelles living in England and Wales at the time of the 2011 Census.
Source: Office for National Statistics.
Updates to this page
Last updated 23 January 2023 + show all updates
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The prevalence level for hepatitis B and reproductive health indicators data have been updated.
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First published.