Guidance

Seychelles: migrant health guide

Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Seychelles for healthcare practitioners.

From:
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Published
31 July 2014
Last updated
23 January 2023 — See all updates

Main messages

If the patient is new to the UK:

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
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 (%)
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 (%)
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

Published 31 July 2014
Last updated 23 January 2023 + show all updates

  1. The prevalence level for hepatitis B and reproductive health indicators data have been updated.

  2. First published.

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