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Lima Junior LPD, Lima KCOD, Bertolozzi MR, França FODS. Vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in primary health care: a scoping review. Rev Saude Publica 2022; 56:15. [PMID: 35384999 PMCID: PMC8963749 DOI: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056003691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To map and analyze the vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in the context of primary health care. METHOD Scoping review in which studies published in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages from 2011 onwards were reviewed. The following databases were surveyed: Cochrane, Scopus, Health System Evidence, MedLine-PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Lilacs, Web of Science, SciELO, NYAM Grey Literature, BVS, Capes Thesis and Dissertation Database, Refworld and Journal of Refugee Studies. Data were analyzed in light of the concept of vulnerability. RESULTS Of the 854 studies identified, 40 articles were held for analysis and extraction of vulnerability indicators in the individual, social and programmatic dimensions. Regarding the individual dimension, the main indicators identified were unemployment, unstable and overcrowded housing, lack of sanitation and access to water, mental disorders, communicable and chronic noncommunicable diseases, etc. In the programmatic dimension, were identified, mainly, health teams with work overload, lack of preparation to deal with cultural and linguistic barriers, and delays in providing care. In relation to the social dimension, lack of access to schools, to information about health programs in the host countries, and to rights, among others, were found. CONCLUSION Vulnerabilities found highlight the disadvantage of refugees regarding health programs, services and system in host countries, in addition to highlighting the deep inequalities that affect this group. It is pointed out the need for programs and policies that promote actions, within the scope of primary health care, which recognize and respond to the health needs of refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Paulo de Lima Junior
- Universidade de São Paulo . Faculdade de Saúde Pública . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Global e Sustentabilidade . São Paulo , SP , Brasil
| | - Kayte Chaves Oliveira de Lima
- Universidade de São Paulo . Escola de Enfermagem . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem . São Paulo , SP , Brasil
| | - Maria Rita Bertolozzi
- Universidade de São Paulo . Escola de Enfermagem . Departamento de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva . São Paulo , SP , Brasil
| | - Francisco Oscar de Siqueira França
- Universidade de São Paulo . Faculdade de Medicina . Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias . Núcleo de Medicina Tropical. São Paulo , SP , Brasil
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Behnke NL, Cronk R, Shackelford BB, Cooper B, Tu R, Heller L, Bartram J. Environmental health conditions in protracted displacement: A systematic scoping review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 726:138234. [PMID: 32481202 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Adequate environmental health services are critical for human rights, health, and development, especially in the context of forced displacement. There are more than 70 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, most in protracted situations, having been displaced for more than two years. Some live in camps or informal settlements, but most live in urban areas. Environmental health services are important in the transition from emergency response to sustainable development in these settings, but evidence on environmental health in displaced populations is disparate and of variable quality. We conducted a systematic scoping review of environmental conditions, exposures, and outcomes in protracted displacement settings; obstacles to improvement in environmental health services; and recommendations made for improvement. We included 213 publications from peer-reviewed and grey literature databases. Data were extracted on environmental health topics including water, sanitation, hygiene, overcrowding, waste management, energy supply, vector control, menstrual hygiene, air quality, and food safety. Most studies present data from low- and lower-middle income countries. Northern Africa and Western Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are the most-represented regions. There is substantial evidence on water, sanitation, and crowding, but few studies report findings on other environmental health topics. Water-related disease, parasites, and respiratory infections are frequently cited and studies report that services often fail to meet international standards for humanitarian response. The most frequent obstacles and recommendations are institutional, political, or implementation-related, but few studies provide concrete recommendations for improvement. Our review compiles and characterizes the research on environmental health in protracted displacement. We recommend including displaced populations in international environmental health policy and monitoring initiatives, and bridging from humanitarian response to sustainable development by preparing for long-term displacement from the early stages of a crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki L Behnke
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Ryan Cronk
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Brandie Banner Shackelford
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Brittany Cooper
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Raymond Tu
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Leo Heller
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
| | - Jamie Bartram
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Ln, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9DY, United Kingdom
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Miç P, Koyuncu M, Hallak J. Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) Location-Allocation with Multi-Objective Modelling: A Case Study in Idleb, Syria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16050811. [PMID: 30845652 PMCID: PMC6427457 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16050811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Syrian crisis began on 15 March 2011. It is one of the bloodiest and complicated conflicts in the world today. Although almost eight years have passed over this tragedy, civilians continue to suffer from conflicts and destructions in the area. As a result, this situation disregards human life and the number of people in need increases day by day. Particularly, people who have to live in the conflict area encounter troubles with regard to health, shelter, food and other needs. Thus, we have focused on identifying the Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) locations within Idleb Governorate in Syria. Data is extracted from a sample containing 23 sub-districts in the governorate and a total of 338 communities. We have formulated a mixed integer-weighted goal programming model and combined it with a Geographic Information System-GIS (ArcMap). The model is solved via an optimization package and moreover, sensitivity analyses are conducted to achieve a more in-depth study. Our aim was to have 60 PHCCs out of 77 available candidate PHCCs and the model located 42 PHCCs in total, by allocating 379,080 people, with a total cost of USD 1,000,353 and a cash for work amounting to USD 163,549. Accordingly, the model’s outputs and sensitivity analyses are expected to help decision-makers in case of such disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pınar Miç
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Çukurova University, Sarıçam 01330, Turkey.
| | - Melik Koyuncu
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Çukurova University, Sarıçam 01330, Turkey.
| | - Jamil Hallak
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Çukurova University, Sarıçam 01330, Turkey.
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Rennert WP, Hindiyeh M, Abu-Awwad FM, Marzouqa H, Ramlawi A. Introducing rotavirus vaccine to the Palestinian territories: the role of public-private partnerships. J Public Health (Oxf) 2019; 41:e78-e83. [PMID: 29917158 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Introducing childhood immunization poses challenges in environments of societal fragility. The Palestinian territories (Pt) are considered 'fragile' because of their lack of political, economic and territorial sovereignty. Poverty is rife, infant mortality high, and diseases associated with overcrowding widespread. Under these circumstances the Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation (RVF) has assembled a network of public and private stakeholders to introduce a country-wide rotavirus immunization program. METHODS The incidence of diarrhea was determined for 18 months before and 18 months after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine among all children younger than 5 years presenting to outpatient clinics in Gaza with three or more loose stools per day. Simultaneously the prevalence of rotavirus was established by rotavirus antigen detection in stool samples collected from children younger than 3 years at Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem during the corresponding time periods. RESULTS Within 12 months 97.4% immunization coverage was achieved. The incidence of diarrhea dropped by 32.2%, while the prevalence of rotavirus in stool samples decreased by 64.6% throughout the following year. CONCLUSION In environments of economic or political instability private-public partnerships for the introduction of comprehensive vaccination programs can work based on close collaboration, shared vision, flexibility and inter-organizational trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- W P Rennert
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - M Hindiyeh
- Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem, Palestine
| | - F M Abu-Awwad
- Rostropovich Vishneskaya Foundation, Gaza, Palestine
| | - H Marzouqa
- Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem, Palestine
| | - A Ramlawi
- Palestinian Ministry of Health, Ramallah, Palestine
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