Health challenges and access to health care among Syrian refugees in Jordan: a review

Background: Syrian refugees in Jordan are currently facing difficulties in accessing adequate healthcare.

Aims: This study looked at the health conditions and barriers to accessing healthcare in Syrian refugees settled in Jordan.

Methods: Pubmed, CINAHL and Google Scholar were searched for published cross-sectional studies on the health status of Syrian refugees, specifically the prevalence of chronic diseases, communicable diseases, physical impairments, emotional and mental health problems, and barriers to health care. The terms searched were: Syrian refugee, health access barriers, health access, chronic diseases, communicable diseases/infectious diseases, physical impairment and mental health. The prevalence and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were calculated.

Results: The literature search yielded 265 articles, of which 8 were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence of the conditions assessed were: chronic diseases, 29% [95% CI: 0.190–0.429]; communicable diseases, 42.9% [95% CI: 0.184–0.713]; emotional and mental health problems, 32.9% [95% CI: 0.191–0.504]; physical impairment, 14.4% [95% CI: 0.056–0.322]. Financial issues were the greatest barrier to accessing health care for 66% [95% CI: 0.449–0.823%].

Conclusions: The health challenges of Syrian refugees are not just about chronic and acute diseases, injuries, or shortage of health resources or health disparities. It is a health burden that has become an economic, political and social crisis for the Jordanian government and its people, and measures and support to help Jordan continue to provide for refugees are needed.

Effectiveness of obesity prevention campaign (OPC) among adolescents

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Despite the existing campaigns on obesity prevention, there's still high incidence which can lead to complications. This study determined the effectiveness of obesity prevention campaign (OPC) among adolescents, and the difference according to sex and groups. Aquasi-experimental time-series design was used. The participants were 56 Grade 7 high school students from Baguio City, randomly chosen through one-stage cluster sampling, assigned in the interventions groups, assessed using a self-made questionnaire, introduced with OPC and reassessed for three weeks. Frequency percentages and Chi-square were utilized. The brochure plus health teaching is an effective OPC. There is a significant difference in BMI according to sex of the adolescents. The OPC yielded effective results in the physical aspects for both groups. Repeated campaign can produce a successful effect in preventing obesity among adolescents. Utilization of either the brochure alone or brochure with health teaching is enough to create a successful change.</p>