ABSTRACT
<p><b>Introduction</b></p><p> In Sri Lanka, there was ethnic violence in the form of armed conflict that lasted 26 years from 1983 through 2009. The conflict between two ethnic groups were bogged down by terrorism or by foreign military intervention. It destroyed the life of inhabitants and it is thought to have inhibited the health and growth of children.</p><p> A case study was conducted in Sri Lanka to establish the effects of the armed conflict on children’s health, soon after the conflict ended. The case study was aimed at using the result for planning health administration.</p><p><b>Methods </b></p><p> 400 participants aged 12 and above were selected from 10 schools of two out of 11 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Trincomalee District in Sri Lanka. 10 schools were classified into two DS Divisions, severely devastated and less devastated. Each participant was assessed, using anthropometric techniques and questionnaires including GHQ-12. Reliability of the questions was confirmed through back translation and the use of an English-Tamil questionnaire. The mean values of the anthropometric measurements, the mean values of score by factor analysis of GHQ-12 response, and various items of social environment were compared between the two regions. These different significances were tested using F-test, t-test and Chi-square test. </p><p><b>Results</b></p><p> In comparisons between two regions, body weight, height and BMI among participants in severely affected region were significantly lower. Additionally, susceptibility to infectious and endemic diseases in severely affected were significantly increased.</p><p> Four characteristics of mental health were identified, but there was no significant difference about the state of depression between the two regions.</p><p><b>Conclusion </b></p><p> Children in conflict zones are susceptible not only to malnutrition, but also infectious diseases caused by unhygienic living conditions. The application of simple anthropometric techniques and relevant knowledge and food distribution are important in evaluating and responding to these children’s health problems.</p>
ABSTRACT
[Objectives] This study aims to analyze women's health issues in post-conflict Cambodia and to discuss the impacts of conflicts on women's health.<br>[Methods] We collected a wide range of literatures and analyzed the historical background and the situation of health and health services in Cambodia. We visited the Ministry of Health, international agencies and health facilities in urban and rural areas for collecting information. We conducted semi-structured interviews to community women, health staff and married men, as well as focus group discussions (FGD) among women. <br>[Results and Discussions] During Pol Pot regime in the late 1970s, most people were subjected to forced migration and hard labor, and many of them, particularly intellectuals, were killed. As a result, most people are still suffering from physical and mental problems, and the reconstruction of the health services delayed due to shortage of skilled personnel including physicians. Health services have been improved dramatically since 1990s by receiving various international aids. However, gaps between the rich and the poor have been widened.<br>Although most women told that they had some health problems, those who were very poor or separated from their husbands seemed to suffer more seriously than those who had no family problems, and to be unable to control their emotions while talking about experiences during the conflict. This might be caused by unhealed psychological trauma, which, in turn, disturbed the reconstruction of their lives. Most women recognized that conflicts affected their health status and they also admitted that poverty and ill-health formed a vicious cycle. Possible interventions should empower women so that they can develop their latent capacities and rebuild community networks.<br>[Conclusion] It is important to focus on the access to the basic health services for the rural and urban poors. It is also important to improve mental health support, so that the poor women can get over the past experience.
ABSTRACT
The importance of medical education and technical cooperation with developing countries is emphasized. As an example, we looked at the residency program of the Department of Surgery, Santa Cruz General Hospital. Provision for postgraduate medical education is quite important in developing countries in order to prevent promising young doctors from leaving the country. Moreover, the curriculum for postgraduate education should be developed in accordance with the health situation of the respective countries. Technical cooperation should be carried out with a long-term perspective, focusing on human resource development, in this case the young doctors. From now on, it will not only be technical experts, but also medical education experts that will be needed in developing countries.