Bosnia and Herzegovina: migrant health guide
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Bosnia and Herzegovina for healthcare practitioners.
Main messages
If the patient is new to the UK:
- explain to them how the NHS works
- discuss how this compares to the healthcare system they’ve been used to
Ensure that all patients are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule.
Ascertain any risk factors for hepatitis B infection that may indicate the need for screening, because Bosnia and Herzegovina has a low prevalence.
Consider screening for hepatitis C, because Bosnia and Herzegovina has a considerably higher prevalence than the UK.
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.
There is a risk of typhoid infection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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 TB in Bosnia and Herzegovina (<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 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
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a low rate of HIV (≤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
- be advised that national guidelines do not recommend routine consideration of HIV testing of infants and children who have recently arrived in the UK
Hepatitis B
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a low prevalence of hepatitis B, so:
- 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
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a considerably higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so consider screening for hepatitis C.
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 Bosnia and Herzegovina, so:
- ensure that travellers to Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Women’s health
Reproductive health indicators
| Reproductive health indicator | UK | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|---|---|---|
| Number of children per woman¹ | 2 | 1 |
| Use of contraception² | 82% | 47.5% |
| Breast examination or mammography³ | 75% | 47.5% |
| Cervical cancer screening⁴ | 70% | 40% |
¹lifetime average; ²by woman of reproductive age or partner; ³women aged 50 to 69 years; ⁴women aged 20 to 69 years
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 health care
WHO Global Health Observatory has a summary of health indicators and health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Culture, politics and history
BBC News and The World Factbook provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Languages
The main languages used in Bosnia and Herzegovina are:
- Bosnian (official)
- Croatian (official)
- Serbian (official
Source: The World Factbook.
Religions
| Religion | Population (%) |
|---|---|
| Muslim | 40 |
| Orthodox | 31 |
| Roman Catholic | 15 |
| Other | 14 |
Source: The World Factbook.
Migration to the UK
There were almost 8,000 people from Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 30 May 2019 + show all updates
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Updated country TB guidance.
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First published.