Abstract
Due to the conflict that started in spring 2014 in Eastern Ukraine, a total of 1.75 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) fled the area and have been registered in government-controlled areas of the country. This paper explores perceived health, barriers to access to healthcare, caring practices, food security, and overall financial situation of mothers and young children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. This is a qualitative study, which collected data through semi-structured in-depth interviews with nine IDP mothers via Skype and Viber with a convenience sample of participants selected through snowball technique. Contrary to the expectations, the perceived physical health of mothers and their children was found not to be affected by conflict and displacement, while psychological distress was often reported. A weak healthcare system, Ukraine’s proneness to informal payments, and heavy bureaucracy to register as an IDP were reported in our study. A precarious social safety net to IDP mothers in Ukraine, poor dietary diversity, and a generalized rupture of vaccine stocks, with halted or delayed vaccinations in children were identified. Increasing social allowances and their timely delivery to IDP mothers might be the most efficient policy measure to improve health and nutrition security. Reestablishment and sustainability of vaccine stocks in Ukraine is urgent to avoid the risks of a public health crisis. Offering psychological support for IDP mothers is recommended.
Highlights
As a result of the Euromaidan revolution started in November 2013, the former UkrainianPresident Victor Yanukovich was removed from his position and forced into exile in February 2014.Soon after, the attitudes from citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk regions towards the Ukrainian state quickly deteriorated, followed by riots against the new government
We explored internally displaced persons (IDPs) mothers’ perceived health and that of their young children, as well as barriers faced in access and delivery of healthcare, child care practices, nutrition security, and poverty
Our study reveals vulnerabilities that are inherent to the country, such as a weak healthcare system prone to bribes, and other important consequences that are war related, such as a rupture of vaccine stocks, and halted or delayed vaccinations in children
Summary
As a result of the Euromaidan revolution started in November 2013, the former UkrainianPresident Victor Yanukovich was removed from his position and forced into exile in February 2014.Soon after, the attitudes from citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (strongly supporting the former president) towards the Ukrainian state quickly deteriorated, followed by riots against the new government. As a result of the Euromaidan revolution started in November 2013, the former Ukrainian. President Victor Yanukovich was removed from his position and forced into exile in February 2014. The attitudes from citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (strongly supporting the former president) towards the Ukrainian state quickly deteriorated, followed by riots against the new government. The new government reacted immediately and sent troops to control the protests. The troops met serious resistance, which escalated into the start of an armed conflict affecting these territories. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 54; doi:10.3390/ijerph14010054 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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