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Demographics
Burmese refugees have been the largest refugee population arriving in Wisconsin in the last six years (Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin). A mixture of men, women, and children of all ages come from refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border to resettle in Wisconsin with the help of volunteer agencies such as Lutheran Social Services of Milwaukee, Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and the International Institute of Wisconsin. A majority of these refugees resettle in the Milwaukee area due to job availability and necessary resources such as transportation, health care, and specialty shopping centers.

Health Concerns
There are a variety of major health concerns among the Burmese refugee population. Malnutrition is an issue because at refugee camps there is food insecurity, insufficient consumption of iron-rich foods, and parasitic infections that prevent refugees from obtaining the nutrients they need. Infectious diseases are leading causes of death and illness among Burmese refugees because of lack of vaccines, close living conditions, and contaminated water supply. Oral health conditions such as gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis are common because most refugees have not had adequate dental health care and certain cultural practices such as chewing betel nut lead to mouth diseases. Mental health is a concern with many refugees because psychological trauma in their country of origin and the process of resettling may cause post-traumatic stress disorder as well as depression and anxiety. Tuberculosis is a disease prevalent in Burma as well as Thailand, where the refugee camps are located. Due to overcrowding and inadequate healthcare in the refugee camps, the incidence of tuberculosis among the refugee population is rising. Screening for and treating tuberculosis is part of the health assessment before refugees are allowed to enter the United States. This helps to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in America.

Economic Status
Due to the nature of their situation in Burma, refugees come to America with little to no possessions. Through volunteer resettlement agencies, refugees are able to find housing, jobs, and resources to apply for public benefits. In 2009, 726 of the refugees in Milwaukee County were from Burma, and 473 of these refugees were on public benefits. Although many refugees resettle in Milwaukee for job availability, they often have to settle for entry-level manufacturing jobs despite their previous experience and education. This is because of the language barrier and transportation issues they encounter when first arriving in America. Many times the jobs they acquire pay minimum wage, and although many work full-time or even have multiple jobs, they often cannot afford to support their entire family. Due to this financial burden, most refugee families are resettled by their agencies into the same low-income apartment complexes to provide shelter and a sense of community. As recently mentioned in the news, the living conditions within the apartment complexes the refugees are residing are below standards of Milwaukee County. The hazardous issues seen in the apartment complexes, such as cockroach infestation, leaking gas pipes, and broken sewage plumbing, are common complaints among tenants. These poor living conditions are negatively affecting the health status of this population. For more information about Burmese refugee living conditions, click here.