Uruguay: migrant health guide
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Uruguay 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
Due to an intermediate prevalence, consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
There is a risk of typhoid infection.
Be alert for possible cases of Chagas disease, and refer as appropriate, because there is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants.
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 (less than 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:
- test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia
- screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards and guidelines
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
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
- immunise appropriately babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive, and follow up accordingly
- be aware that the UK has a 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.
Typhoid
There is a 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
Chagas
There is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants, so:
- be alert for possible cases
- refer as appropriate
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 and Commonwealth Office for overseas travel advice and National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) for country specific travel advice prior to leaving the UK.
Women’s health
Reproductive health indicators in the UK and Uruguay
| Reproductive health indicator | UK | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Number of children per woman [lifetime average] | 1.6 | 2.0 |
| Use of contraception [by woman of reproductive age or partner] | 71.7% | 79.6% |
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:
- darker skin
- not spending much time outdoors
- covering up most of their skin when outdoors
Country profile
Health indicators and health care
WHO Global Health Observatory has a summary of health indicators and health care in Uruguay.
Culture, politics and history
BBC News and The World Factbook provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Uruguay.
Languages
The main languages used in Uruguay are:
- Spanish (official)
Source: The World Factbook
Religions
| Religion | Population (%) (2014 estimates) |
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 42 |
| Protestant | 15 |
| Agnostic | 3 |
| Atheist | 10 |
| Unspecified | 24 |
| Other | 6 |
Source: The World Factbook
Migration to the UK
There were over 1900 people from Uruguay living in England and Wales at the time of the Census 2021.
Last updated 12 April 2023 + show all updates
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Updated the Hepatitis B prevalence level, vitamin D deficiency risk groups, anaemia risk level, languages, proportions of the population with different religions and migration to UK statistics.
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First published.