Older people tend to be invisible: a qualitative study exploring the needs and inclusion of older Syrian refugees in the context of compounding crises in host country, Lebanon

Fahme, SA (通讯作者),Amer Univ Beirut, Fac Hlth Sci, Dept Epidemiol & Populat Hlth, Beirut, Lebanon.
2022-11-19
Background Older Syrian refugees in Lebanon are a marginalized population with under-recognized health needs. The inclusivity of this population within the humanitarian response is poorly understood. This study aims to identify the unique needs of older Syrian refugees in the context of recent concurrent crises in Lebanon, and explore the extent to which they are being met and prioritized by local and international aid agencies. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with a snowball sample of 26 stakeholders from 11 organizations operating in the health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors. Data analysis followed principles of thematic analysis. Results Concurrent political, economic, and public health crises in host country promoted income insecurity among older refugees and increased dependency on younger relatives, leading to food insecurity, neglect, and poor health outcomes, including the sequelae of untreated non-communicable diseases. Mental illness was perceived to be exacerbated by Covid-19 related challenges, including social isolation, uncertainty about the future, and additionally due to feelings of guilt related to economic dependence and fundamental exclusion from labor force participation. Despite their vulnerability, older refugees are overlooked by the humanitarian response, which may be related to a lack of data. Pervasive medication shortages in the setting of the economic collapse, as well as inaccessible physical environments and competing interests were all identified as major barriers to care. Conclusions Older Syrian refugees in Lebanon experience dual vulnerability that is acutely exacerbated in the setting of concurrent crises. Sociopolitical, economic, and cultural barriers promote social exclusion and may confer an increased risk of income and food insecurity in this population, with significant implications for health. Humanitarian aid agencies operating in the context of fragmented, under-resourced health systems are currently unable to sufficiently address multi-faceted needs of this community. We recommend moving away from a donor-dependent model of aid by allocating resources toward strengthening inclusive national health systems that emphasize preventative care. We further call for age-disaggregation of routine data and normalization of data sharing among stakeholders in the academic and public health sectors in order to develop evidence-based initiatives that can meet the needs of this under-served community.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
卷号:16|期号:1
ISSN:1752-1505|收录类别:SCIE
语种
英语
来源机构
American University of Beirut; University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; American University of Beirut; American University of Beirut
资助机构
UK Research and Innovation as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund through UKRI/ESRC
资助信息
This work was supported by the UK Research and Innovation as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund through UKRI/ESRC for the RECAP Project (Grant Number ES/P010873/1
被引频次(WOS)
0
被引频次(其他)
0
180天使用计数
0
2013以来使用计数
0
出版年
2022-11-19
DOI
10.1186/s13031-022-00496-4
WOS学科分类
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
学科领域
循证公共卫生
关键词
Refugee Older population Aging Humanitarian crises Syria Lebanon