Karaki Fatima M, Alani Ola, Tannoury Maya, Ezzeddine Farrah L, Snyder Robert E, Waked Arifi N, Attieh Zouhair
Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Initiative, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Health Equity. 2021 Apr 30;5(1):261-269. doi: 10.1089/heq.2020.0106. eCollection 2021.
Syrian refugees (SRs) in Lebanon are often relegated to informal camps with poor living conditions and substandard access to health care. This study examined the unique condition of urban camp-dwelling SRs in Lebanon. This population is rarely studied as they are marginalized and difficult to access. We sought to assess the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and health care-seeking behaviors within this population. A randomized group of urban camp-dwelling SR participants completed a survey on disease burden, health care-seeking patterns, and attitudes toward care. A second group completed interviews regarding health care experiences. We present descriptive population and epidemiologic measures to quantify NCD burden and health care-seeking behaviors. Of 101 participants, 39% reported arthritis, 25% skin infection, 24% high blood pressure, 16% chronic lung conditions, 16% eye disease, and 15% diabetes. Major themes from interviews with SRs included poor living conditions, high cost of health care services, and perceived discrimination by health care workers (HCWs). The major theme from interviews with HCWs was a perception that SRs received health care services similar to members of surrounding communities. In this population, we found a higher prevalence of NCDs at younger ages than in the general SR population. We described perceived barriers to accessing health care, including the noteworthy finding of perceived discrimination by HCWs in a linguistically and culturally related host community. We discussed social determinants of health within the camp and refugees' ability to access health care services.
黎巴嫩的叙利亚难民（SRs）常常被安置在生活条件恶劣、医疗服务不达标的非正式营地。本研究调查了黎巴嫩城市营地居住的叙利亚难民的独特状况。由于这一群体被边缘化且难以接触，因此很少被研究。我们试图评估这一群体中非传染性疾病（NCDs）的患病率以及寻求医疗服务的行为。一组随机抽取的城市营地居住的叙利亚难民参与者完成了一项关于疾病负担、寻求医疗模式以及对医疗态度的调查。另一组完成了关于医疗经历的访谈。我们呈现描述性的人口和流行病学指标，以量化非传染性疾病负担和寻求医疗服务的行为。在101名参与者中，39%报告患有关节炎，25%有皮肤感染，24%患有高血压，16%有慢性肺部疾病，16%有眼部疾病，15%患有糖尿病。与叙利亚难民访谈的主要主题包括生活条件差、医疗服务费用高以及医疗工作者（HCWs）存在的歧视感。与医疗工作者访谈的主要主题是认为叙利亚难民获得的医疗服务与周边社区成员相似。在这一群体中，我们发现非传染性疾病在较年轻年龄段的患病率高于叙利亚难民总体人群。我们描述了获取医疗服务的感知障碍，包括在语言和文化相关的东道社区中医疗工作者存在歧视感这一值得注意的发现。我们讨论了营地内健康的社会决定因素以及难民获得医疗服务的能力。
