Abstract
The intersection of digital health platforms and refugee health in the context of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not yet been explored. We discuss the ability of a novel mobile health (mhealth) platform to be effectively adapted to improve health access for vulnerable displaced populations. In a preliminary analysis of 200 Syrian refugee women, we found positive user feedback and uptake of an mhealth application to increase access to preventive maternal and child health services for Syrian refugees under temporary protection in Turkey. Rapid adaptation of this application was successfully implemented during a global pandemic state to perform symptomatic assessment, disseminate health education, and bolster national prevention efforts. We propose that mhealth interventions can provide an innovative, cost-effective, and user-friendly approach to access the dynamic needs of refugees and other displaced populations, particularly during an emerging infectious disease outbreak.
Highlights
It is estimated that at least 200 million people will be forcibly displaced from their homes by 2050, driven by humanitarian crises often fueled by conflict and climate change [1]
Incorporating refugee care into local and national health efforts is an important component of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [3]
Mobile populations affected by humanitarian crises who are without access to stable and safe housing face compounded health risks during infectious disease outbreaks, during the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
Summary
It is estimated that at least 200 million people will be forcibly displaced from their homes by 2050, driven by humanitarian crises often fueled by conflict and climate change [1]. The Future of mHealth in the Refugee Context Novel mHealth applications can enable broad use of innovative end-user centered interventions for highly mobile populations during a pandemic response Within this context, they can be used to: 1) widely disseminate health information for refugees, 2) identify and educate highrisk mobile populations to ensure proactive screening and early case identification, 3) support data collection of mobile populations during infectious outbreaks, and 4) decompress hospital-based triage by improving access to health information and safety planning. Mobile health platforms can serve as a key policy innovation for future outbreaks and other urgent global needs for diverse and moving populations in humanitarian crises This mHealth intervention is uniquely designed to provide focused behavioral influence to increase the uptake of available public health services. The data collection capacity allows for timely policy responses and subsequent cost-effective interventions for mobile populations
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