A chronicle of crises and emergencies: (dis)continuity of care for Syrian refugee children with neglected non-communicable diseases in Lebanon.

IF 3.1 2区 医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Molly Gilmour, Ibrahim R Bou-Orm
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Lebanon's recent history has been marked by intersecting crises, including a severe economic collapse, the Beirut port explosion, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst this "polycrisis," the healthcare system has become increasingly reliant on international humanitarian assistance. This paper examines how these overlapping crises have affected the provision of care for children with thalassemia, a neglected non-communicable disease (NCD), within a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) paediatric unit operating in Lebanon between 2018 and 2023. Drawing on a single-case study design, the research explores the dynamics of power between state and non-state actors as well as within international humanitarian organizations and their approaches to healthcare delivery. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including audio diaries, interviews, document analysis, and co-development groups involving 11 staff members and 18 caregivers of Syrian paediatric patients. Participants shared insights into operational challenges, decision-making processes, and the lived experiences of navigating Lebanon's collapsing health system. Findings reveal three interconnected issues: (1) the polycrises created an unsustainable environment even for resource-rich international non-governmental organizations (iNGOs); (2) the withdrawal of humanitarian services exacerbated the suffering of structurally marginalized Syrian families reliant on no-cost thalassemia treatment; and (3) national staff experienced profound professional and personal challenges as navigated tensions between iNGO policies and patient needs, often leading to burnout and reduced well-being. The study underscores the need for a reorientation of humanitarian healthcare models in protracted crises. This includes greater equity in decision-making between international organisations and national actors, longer-term planning for chronic disease care, and deeper engagement with national staff and affected communities. Prioritising sustainability, health justice, and the lived realities of both providers and patients is essential. While rooted in the specific context of Lebanon's highly privatised and pluralistic health system, these findings hold broader relevance for fragile settings facing similar structural and political constraints.

危机和紧急情况编年史:(中断)对黎巴嫩境内患有被忽视非传染性疾病的叙利亚难民儿童的护理。
黎巴嫩最近的历史以交叉危机为特征,包括严重的经济崩溃、贝鲁特港口爆炸和2019冠状病毒病大流行。在这种“多重危机”中,医疗保健系统越来越依赖国际人道主义援助。本文研究了这些重叠的危机如何影响地中海贫血儿童的护理,地中海贫血是一种被忽视的非传染性疾病(NCD),在2018年至2023年期间,无国界医生组织(MSF)在黎巴嫩的儿科部门开展工作。本研究采用单案例研究设计,探讨了国家和非国家行为体之间以及国际人道主义组织内部的权力动态及其提供医疗保健的方法。该研究采用了混合方法,包括音频日记、访谈、文件分析和共同发展小组,涉及11名工作人员和18名叙利亚儿科患者护理人员。与会者分享了对业务挑战、决策过程以及应对黎巴嫩崩溃的卫生系统的实际经验的见解。研究结果揭示了三个相互关联的问题:(1)多重危机甚至为资源丰富的国际非政府组织(ingo)创造了不可持续的环境;(2)人道主义服务的撤出加剧了依赖免费地中海贫血治疗的结构性边缘化叙利亚家庭的痛苦;(3)在应对国际非政府组织政策和患者需求之间的紧张关系时,国家工作人员经历了深刻的专业和个人挑战,往往导致倦怠和幸福感下降。该研究强调,需要在旷日持久的危机中重新定位人道主义保健模式。这包括国际组织和国家行为体之间在决策方面更加公平,慢性病护理的长期规划,以及与国家工作人员和受影响社区进行更深入的接触。优先考虑可持续性、卫生公正以及提供者和患者的生活现实是至关重要的。虽然这些发现植根于黎巴嫩高度私有化和多元化卫生系统的具体背景,但对面临类似结构和政治限制的脆弱环境具有更广泛的相关性。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Conflict and Health
Conflict and Health Medicine-Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
CiteScore
6.10
自引率
5.60%
发文量
57
审稿时长
18 weeks
期刊介绍: Conflict and Health is a highly-accessed, open access journal providing a global platform to disseminate insightful and impactful studies documenting the public health impacts and responses related to armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and forced migration.
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