MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING IN A WAR SITUATION: THE CASE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANUEL CARBALLO ◽  
ARIF SMAJKIC ◽  
DAMIR ZERIC ◽  
MONIKA DZIDOWSKA ◽  
JOY GEBRE-MEDHIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Family Reunification ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Psychosocial Impacts ◽  
External Assistance ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Psychosocial Responses ◽  
And Coping

The latter part of the twentieth century has seen an increased concern for the implications of war for civilian populations, and more attention has been given to psychosocial impacts of uprooting and displacement. ‘Loss of place’, acute and chronic trauma, family disruption and problems of family reunification have become issues of concern. The war in Bosnia was characterized by massive displacement, disruption and loss of life, relatives and property. Health and psychosocial well-being were affected in a number of ways. There was an overwhelming loss of perceived power and self-esteem. Over 25% of displaced people, for example, said they no longer felt they were able to play a useful role; even in non-displaced populations approximately 11% of those interviewed said that they had lost a sense of worth. Widespread depression and feelings of fatigue and listlessness were common and may have prevented people from taking steps to improve their situation. Almost a quarter of internally displaced people had a high startle capacity and said they were constantly nervous. Most adverse psychosocial responses increased with age and in a population that includes many elderly people this poses serious problems. The findings point to major challenges with respect to repatriation and reconstruction. They highlight the importance of family reunification and the facilitating of decision-making by affected people themselves. The findings also shed light on potential problems associated with over-dependence on external assistance and hence the need for people to be given the means of using their skills and knowledge to control their day-to-day lives.

scholarly journals Access to medicines among internally displaced and non-displaced people in urban areas in Colombia

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 2245-2256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Ruiz-Rodríguez ◽  
Veronika J. Wirtz ◽  
Alvaro J. Idrovo ◽  
Mary Lupe Angulo
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Improve Access

This study analyzes access to medicines among displaced and non-displaced populations in urban areas in Bucaramanga, Colombia. A household survey was carried out to study access to medicines for self-reported and medically diagnosed health conditions. Multiple Poisson regression with robust variance was used to determine factors associated with access to medicines. Two thousand and sixty individuals from 514 families participated. Only 29.1% (95%CI: 22.04-37.08) of the individuals in the sample with prescriptions and 44.3% (95%CI: 40.42-48.25) with self-reported needs for pharmacotherapy were taking medicines. Greater access was associated with the perceived severity of the illness, higher income, having a health center nearby and not perceiving barriers in accessing services. Social security affiliation and being displaced were not related. Social security coverage alone does not have an effect on access to medicines because it does not include essential medicines that correspond to the health needs of this population. Resolving administrative and geographical barriers is likely to improve access to medicines.

Concepts of Resilience Among Trauma-Exposed Syrian Refugees

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-268
Author(s):  
Rawan Atari-Khan ◽  
Anna Hope Covington ◽  
Lawrence H. Gerstein ◽  
Huda al Herz ◽  
Betsy R. Varner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Internal Sources

Syrian refugees comprise the largest population of internally displaced people in the world, with about 18,000 Syrian refugees resettled in the United States from 2011 to 2016. Although many of these individuals experience trauma that can lead to different mental health problems, most are quite resilient. This qualitative study explores themes of resilience in Syrian refugees, and how these themes differ from Western ideas of resilience. Eight in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Syrian adults in the United States. Questions focused on three experiences: preflight, flight, and postflight. Interviews were conducted in Arabic with a bilingual translator. Thematic analysis was used to identify concepts of resilience. Themes that emerged included: life in Syria outside of conflict, life in Syria during war, seeking refuge, life in the United States, hardships and challenges, systemic failure, comparison between cultures, health and well-being, external sources of resilience, and internal sources of resilience. We discuss research and counseling implications of these results.

scholarly journals The Effect of Conflict and Displacement on the Health of Internally Displaced People: The Colombian Crisis

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Andrea Barrera Ramirez ◽  
Hernan Dario Franco
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Rural Families ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Health And Well Being

ABSTRACTDecades of violence in Colombia led to the relocation of millions of rural families into urban areas, where the violation of human rights and abuse add to the struggle to meet most basic needs. Lack of housing, economic instability, poor access to healthcare and educa­tion impact their overall health. Unfortunately, implementation of laws created to alleviate the crisis has been unsuccessful, as armed groups target aid efforts through violence and threats. While the role of physicians is limited, advocacy and collaboration with other organizations can help improve the health and well-being of this population. RÉSUMÉDes décennies de violence en Colombie ont mené au relogement de millions de familles rurales vers des milieux urbains, où la viola­tion des droits de la personne et les sévices exacerbent la lutte pour subvenir aux besoins fondamentaux. Le manque de logement, l’instabilité économique, et l’accès restreint aux soins de santé et à l’éducation ont un impact sur leur santé globale. Malheureuse­ment, l’établissement de lois conçues pour alléger la crise s’est révélé sans succès, puisque des groupes armés ciblent ces efforts d’aide humanitaire avec de la violence et des menaces. Bien que le rôle des médecins soit limité, les activités de plaidoyer et la collaboration avec d’autres organismes peuvent aider à améliorer la santé et le bien-être de cette population. 

scholarly journals Mapping displaced populations with reference to social vulnerabilities for post-disaster public health management

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junaid Ahmad ◽  
Anees Ahmad ◽  
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad ◽  
Nafees Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Mathematical Formulas ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Social Vulnerabilities

Millions of people are currently displaced from their homes because of local and international conflicts. In the last two decades, a substantial increase in the number of displaced people has been recorded. We measured the social vulnerabilities of displaced populations using a mathematical approach in combination with application of geographical information systems (GIS) tools and techniques to visualise movement and draw attention to the location of significant concentration of vulnerabilities. A retrospective study approach based on datasets collected from governmental and non-governmental organisations working with refugees and internally displaced persons in Pakistan was used. We applied simple mathematical formulas to calculate and map various types of vulnerability, such as refugee population, absorption capacity, unmet needs and overall vulnerability. This approach displays risks and vulnerabilities of displaced populations in an easily understood and straightforward manner that can be replicated in other parts of the world.

scholarly journals Mapping differential vulnerabilities and rights: ‘opening’ access to social protection for forcibly displaced populations

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Sabates-Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Population Movements ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Political Conflicts ◽  
Scale Population ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Institutional Capability

Abstract In recent years, forcibly displaced populations have attracted enormous media attention as an increasing number of disasters and political conflicts push more and more people to move away from their homes and seek refuge and opportunities in other places. At the same time, political nervousness about the financial and institutional capability of ‘receiving’ locations to adequately respond to the needs of these large-scale population movements contributes to the shrinking space for thinking about the rights and needs of people on the move. It is precisely because of these global trends that the plight of forcibly displaced populations is becoming more precarious and vulnerable, yet standard social protection provision rarely attends to the plight of these people. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the remit and implications for including a consideration of forcibly displaced populations (including internally displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers) within social protection policy and programming. Drawing on a limited number of recent initiatives, we suggest some ways in which social protection can be ‘opened’ for these groups.

scholarly journals The impact of displacement on the social, economic and health situation on a sample of internally displaced families in Anbar Province, Iraq

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-59
Author(s):  
Saad Ahmed Ali Jadoo ◽  
Yaseen Taha Sarhan ◽  
Mustafa Ali Mustafa Al-Samarrai ◽  
Mahasin Ali Al-Taha ◽  
Ban Nadhum AL- Any ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
The Impact

Background: Internally displaced people in Iraq are still suffering because the solutions were not radical. This study aims to assess the impact of displacement on the socio-economic, well-being and mental health status of internally displaced families in Anbar province, Iraq. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 3rd to 17th April 2017. Data was collected using a universal sampling technique. A total of 355 households interviewed with a modified questionnaire consisting of 26 close-ended questions related to the socio-economic, demographic, wellbeing and the mental health characteristics. Results: At the time of the study, about 55.5% of the surveyed displaced families have not returned home yet. Big families of more than seven members (59.4%) and residency in renting houses (82.8%) are two variables that may contribute to an economic burden. Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety spread among 62.3% of surveyed families. Significant rise in chronic diseases from 64 (18.0%) cases before displacement to 102 cases (28.7%) after displacement. Few of them (21.6%) were able to access public health services. People who experienced violence are verbally abused at 52.1%. Lack of the services (50.3%), the inability to repair the destroyed houses (26.4%) and the loss of house due to complete destruction (23.3%) were the significant factors inhibited families to return home back. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the need for urgent and strategic plans to improve the quality of logistics, health and infrastructure services to motivate the displaced families to return back to their homes.

Ambulatory Care by Disaster Responders in the Tent Camps of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, January 2010

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Broach ◽  
Mariah McNamara ◽  
Katherine Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Pediatric Illness ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
The City

ABSTRACTOn January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred approximately 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in history. The purpose of this report is to describe the types of illness experienced by people living in tent camps around the city in the immediate aftermath of this event. The data were collected by a team of medical personnel working with an international nongovernmental organization and operating in the tent camps surrounding the city from day 15 to day 18 following the earthquake. In agreement with the existing literature describing patterns of illness in refugee and internally displaced populations, the authors note a preponderance of pediatric illness, with 53% of cases being patients younger than 20 years old and 25% younger than 5 years old. The most common complaints noted by category were respiratory (24.6%), gastrointestinal (16.9%), and genitourinary (10.9%). Another important feature of illness among this population was the observed high incidence of malnutrition among pediatric patients. This report should serve as a guide for future medical interventions in refugee and internally displaced people situations and reinforces the need for strong nutritional support programs in disaster relief operations of this kind.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:116-121)

scholarly journals Riverbank erosion displacees in Bangladesh: need for institutional response and policy intervention

1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Fakrul Islam ◽  
ANM Baslur Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Flood Control ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Displacement Adaptation ◽  
Riverbank Erosion ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Involuntary Displacement

Environmental refugees are one of the most burning issues at this time throughout the world. Bangladesh, a riverine country, is suffering from acquit riverbank erosion which compels millions of her population to be displaced from their place of origin. As such, 283 locations, 85 towns and growth centers, along with 2400 kilometers of riverbank line in Bangladesh are vulnerable to erosion. The major rivers e.g., the Padma, the Jamuna, and the Meghna, erode several thousand hectares of floodplain making thousands of people landless and homeless every year. Along with the floodplain, Bangladesh loses several kilometers of roads, railways, and flood-control embankments annually. No other disaster is as disastrous as riverbank erosion and ‘Internally Displaced Populations’ (IDP) face many unavoidable problems at different stages of displacement. Displacement marginalized them in respect of livelihood patterns and psycho-physical troubles. Such forty million homeless people in Bangladesh are compelled to lead a floating life. Riverbank erosion plays a major role in socio-environmental changes. The displaced people of riverbank erosion experience substantial socio-economic impoverishment and marginalization as a consequence of involuntary displacement from their original residence. Findings of a social survey carried out in 2008 on the erosion-hit displaced people in Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts are discussed in this paper. Newly settled people along with the native inhabitants have been interviewed to reveal the problems associated with making rearrangements for the displaced people. Besides these problems of displacement, adaptation strategies and relationships with the local people, their socioeconomic losses, sufferings, perception of natural disaster and psycho-physical problems, environmental ruins etc. have been revealed in this paper. There are no specific policies to rehabilitate the erosion-hit people. Thus, it is time to formulate policies to address prevention of riverbank erosion as well as to rehabilitate the river-erosion refugees.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bioethics.v2i2.9540 Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2011; 2(2): 4-19

Questioning the Dynamics and Language of Forced Migration in Asia: The experiences of ethnic Chinese refugees

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 430-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURA MADOKORO ◽  
ELAINE LYNN-EE HO ◽  
GLEN PETERSON
Keyword(s):  
Forced Migration ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Migration Studies ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Ethnic Chinese ◽  
Displaced Populations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Vantage Points

To what extent are different parts of the world exceptional when it comes to the history of forced migration and refugee experiences? For instance, is forced migration in Asia distinct from developments elsewhere? Or is forced migration in Asia part of wider processes of displacement and emplacement so characteristic of the modern world? Over the past few decades, the fields of refugee and forced migration studies have ballooned. Scholars in a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, political science, geography, and history have sought to understand the nature of population displacements in the modern world. Much of the early scholarship in this field focused on Europe in the immediate aftermath of the First and Second World Wars. Scholars have also sought to understand the nature of protracted refugee situations in Africa.1 More recently, scholars have investigated forced migration within globalized and transnational frameworks.2 Yet no sooner had scholars started to think of displacement in these terms than critics began to contend that the unique, and localized, dimensions of displaced populations, including refugees, forced migrants, and internally displaced people, were being ignored. Questions about what is gained and what is lost in approaching the study of modern refugee populations from various vantage points now frame much of the work in the fields of refugee and forced migration studies.3

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