Where Children Play: Young Child Exposure to Environmental Hazards during Play in Public Areas in a Transitioning Internally Displaced Persons Community in Haiti

Globally, gastrointestinal (GI) infections by enteric pathogens are the second-leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age (≤5 years). While GI pathogen exposure in households has been rigorously examined, there is little data about young children’s exposure in public domains. Moreover, public areas in low-income settings are often used for other waste disposal practices in addition to human feces, such as trash dumping in areas near households. If young children play in public domains, they might be exposed to interrelated and highly concentrated microbial, chemical, and physical hazards. This study performed structured observations at 36 public areas in an internally displaced persons community that has transitioned into a formal settlement in Haiti. We documented how often young children played in public areas and quantified behaviors that might lead to illness and injury. Children ≤5 years played at all public sites, which included infants who played at 47% of sites. Children touched and mouthed plastic, metal and glass trash, food and other objects from the ground, ate soil (geophagia) and drank surface water. They also touched latrines, animals, animal feces and open drainage canals. Hand-to-mouth contact was one of the most common behaviors observed and the rate of contact significantly differed among developmental stages (infants: 18/h, toddlers: 11/h and young children: 9/h), providing evidence that children could ingest trace amounts of animal/human feces on hands that may contain GI pathogens. These findings demonstrate that water, sanitation and hygiene interventions could be more effective if they consider exposure risks to feces in public domains. Furthermore, this research highlights the need for waste-related interventions to address the broader set of civil conditions that create unsafe, toxic and contaminated public environments where young children play.

Download Full-text

Assessment of knowledge and practices of Internally Displaced pregnant women attending to antenatal clinic center at Arbat camp in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research ◽

10.24017/science.2018.1.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 52-56

Author(s):

Layla Abdulkhalk Abass

Keyword(s):

Antenatal Care ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Low Income ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Good Knowledge ◽

Internally Displaced Persons ◽

Islamic State ◽

Displaced Persons ◽

Kurdistan Region ◽

Internally Displaced

Internally displaced persons are peoples displaced in it is own country but not crossed a border. After (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria attacked in 2014 to Iraq, millions of Iraqi people flee from their own city war zone to safe camps in Kurdistan region north of Iraq, Arbat camp is one of these camps. Iraqi civilian people constitute most new displacement persons around the world as at least 2.2 million were displaced in 2014. An important part of basic maternal health care is antenatal care that must be provided during pregnancy. Aim of this study is to provide demographic data of Internally Displaced Persons pregnant women and the effect on antenatal care knowledge and practices among of Arbat camp that visits to camp health centers on their health. Assessment of knowledge and practices of pregnant women about antennal care. A cross-sectional descriptive study has been conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of (103) women attended to antenatal care of internally displaced persons) at Arbat camps between 1 January to 30 June 2016. Data collected through the questionnaire form by face-to-face interview. Statistical analyses performed by using SPSS version 16.0, to find descriptive analysis like percentage and frequency and for relative statistical analysis. The results have revealed that most of the pregnant women were in the active reproductive age group 18-25 years old 56(54.4%) pregnant women, housewives 102(99%), illiterate 48(46.6%) pregnant women, were in families that have low income with 48(46.6%) pregnant women with significant relation to the knowledge and practices to antenatal care. In conclusion, most pregnant women have very good knowledge about antenatal care except about performing oral health hygiene during pregnancy. The majority of pregnant women in camps have very good knowledge about all practices that must be do during antenatal except taking medication without a physician prescription.

Download Full-text

Refugee mental health challenges in Africa

International Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/s1749367600005063 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 3-4

Author(s):

Frank G. Njenga

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

United Nations ◽

Low Income ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Internally Displaced Persons ◽

Displaced Persons ◽

Internally Displaced ◽

United Nations High Commissioner ◽

Refugee Mental Health ◽

High Commissioner

Nearly all low-income countries are either just themselves emerging from conflict or neighbour a country that has just emerged from one. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (http://www.unhcr.org), of the 38 million uprooted people in 2003 worldwide, Africa played host to 13 million internally displaced persons and 3.5 million refugees.

Download Full-text

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS)

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2015.22.03.1352 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (03) ◽

pp. 337-342

Author(s):

Wajid Ali Akhunzada ◽

Altaf Qadir ◽

Niaz Maqsood ◽

Ghulam Rasool ◽

Raza Ur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Control Group ◽

Internally Displaced Persons ◽

Displaced Persons ◽

Care Providers ◽

Psychological Disturbance ◽

Internally Displaced

Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) live in low-income countriesexperiencing a war; their psychosocial health has not been well addressed. Objectives: To findout the prevalence of anxiety and depression in internally displaced persons (IDPs). Design:A randomized cluster sampling, case-controlled study. Period: 10th April 2009 to 10th July2009. Setting: This study was conducted at Kacha Ghari camp and Sheikh Yaseen camp forIDPs. Patients and Method: A total of 220 cases (those whom were exposed to traumaticexperiences) were selected through cluster random sampling. 220-matched controls (thosewhom were not exposed to traumatic experiences) were selected same day using the samesampling method. Both sexes were included. Socio-demographic information was obtainedfrom IDP- information form. Anxiety and depression was assessed using Hopkins symptomschecklist – 25 (HSCL-25). SPSS version -17 was used for statistical analysis. Chi square testwas applied for group comparison to calculate statistical significance. Results: More thanhalf of the participants (60 %) in this study were in age group between 18 to 38 years. 55 %of the population were females. Majority of participant were married (86% - 90%) and wereuneducated (74% - 90%) belongs to lower socio-economical class. The total Scores and theDepression Scores on Hopkins symptoms checklist – 25 (HSCL-25), were significant high incase group than in control group with the P values of 0.04 and 0.05 respectively. Discussion:Trauma and torture leaves a permanent scar on the survivors. It has physical, psychological andsocial squeals. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 is intended to provide primary care physicians,mental health practitioners and other health care providers with an instrument for detectinganxiety and depression in torture and trauma victims. Conclusions: Besides being displacedfrom their residence exposure to trauma come out to be the important causative factor increating psychological disturbance among internally displaced persons.

Download Full-text