Syrian Refugee Children In Lebanon Research Articles

Testing the impact of a skill-targeted social and emotional learning curriculum and its variation by pre- and postmigration conflict experiences: A cluster randomized trial with Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Testing the impact of a skill-targeted social and emotional learning curriculum and its variation by pre- and postmigration conflict experiences: A cluster randomized trial with Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Supplemental Material for Testing the Impact of a Skill-Targeted Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum and Its Variation by Pre- and Postmigration Conflict Experiences: A Cluster Randomized Trial With Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon

Supplemental Material for Testing the Impact of a Skill-Targeted Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum and Its Variation by Pre- and Postmigration Conflict Experiences: A Cluster Randomized Trial With Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon

Mistreatment at work and musculoskeletal pain in male and female working Syrian refugee children

Since the Syrian war in 2011, Syrian refugees in Lebanon have continued to experience socioeconomic deprivation, resorting many families to child labour as a form of survival. Adopting a gender-sensitive analysis, this study explores the relationship between psychosocial adversities and musculoskeletal pain among male and female Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, using data from a cross-sectional survey of working Syrian refugee children between 8 and 18 years in informal tented settlements in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. The majority of working children (4090) worked in agriculture (75.8%). Of the children who experienced musculoskeletal pain, 27.4% worked despite severe pain, three-quarters of the children worked under time pressure, over a third (37.4%) were physically abused at work, and the majority (95.8%) had a good relationship with their co-workers. Logistic regression models revealed a significant association between exposure to psychosocial stressors at work and musculoskeletal pain among male and female children. Practitioner summary: This study is the first to obtain direct testimony on musculoskeletal pain and psychosocial risk factors, among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Using a gender-sensitive analysis, the survey results demonstrated associations between exposure to psychosocial stressors and musculoskeletal pain among male/female Syrian refugee children enduring strenuous working conditions.

The impact of cash transfers on Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

• Syrian refugee children in Lebanon are transitioning from non-formal to formal schooling following receipt of cash transfers. • Children are less likely to engage in child labor among households receiving cash transfers. • Children exhibit improved health outcomes and usage because of receipt of cash transfers. • Receipt of cash transfers lowers girls’ aged 15–19 years likelihood of early marriage. This paper evaluates the impact of multi-purpose cash assistance on Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon. Using a sharp multidimensional regression discontinuity design, we estimate the program impact of varying cash assistance durations measured over two waves of household survey data collected in 2019. The novel research design enables us to make pairwise comparisons between children from discontinued recipient households (received cash for 12 months then got discontinued in the next cash cycle), short-run cash recipient households (up to 10 months), long-term recipient households (between 16 and 22 months) and non-beneficiary eligible households. Results show that children of any MPC recipient group are transitioning from non-formal to formal schooling while also shifting away from child labor. Cash transfers improve health outcomes for pre-primary and school-aged children and reduce the likelihood of early marriage for girls aged 15–19 years.

The dynamic nature of refugee children's resilience: a cohort study of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Children's responses to war and displacement are varied; many struggle, while others appear resilient. However, research into these outcomes disproportionately focuses on cross-sectional data in high-income countries. We aimed to (1) investigate change in resilience across two timepoints in a highly vulnerable sample of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, and (2) explore predictors of their mental health problems across time. In total, 982 Syrian child-caregiver dyads living in refugee settlements in Lebanon completed questionnaires via interview at baseline and follow-up one year later. We categorised children into groups based on their risk for mental health problems across both timepoints (stable high risk/SHR, deteriorating, improving, stable low risk) according to locally validated cut-offs on measures of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and behavioural problems. Analyses of covariance identified how the groups differed on a range of individual and socio-environmental predictors, followed up by cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) to investigate the directionality of the relationships between significantly related predictors and symptoms. The sample showed a meaningful amount of change in mental health symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Over half (56.3%) of children met SHR criteria and 10.3% deteriorated over time, but almost one-quarter (24.2%) showed meaningful improvement, and 9.2% were consistently at low risk for mental health problems at both timepoints. Several predictors differentiated the groups, particularly social measures. According to CLPMs, maternal acceptance (β = -0.07) predicted child mental health symptoms over time. Self-esteem (β = -0.08), maternal psychological control (β = 0.10), child maltreatment (β = 0.09) and caregiver depression (β = 0.08) predicted child symptoms and vice versa (βse = -0.11, βb = 0.07, βmpc = 0.08, βcm = 0.1, βcd = 0.11). Finally, child symptoms predicted loneliness (β = 0.12), bullying (β = 0.07), perceived social support (β = -0.12), parent-child conflict (β = 0.13), caregiver PTSD (β = 0.07), caregiver anxiety (β = 0.08) and the perceived refugee environment (β = -0.09). Our results show risk and resilience are dynamic, and the family environment plays a key role in children's response to war and displacement. Conversely, children also have a significant impact on the family environment and caregiver's own mental health. Interventions to promote resilience in refugee children should therefore consider family-wide mechanisms.

Work-related injuries among Syrian refugee child workers in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon: A gender-sensitive analysis.

BackgroundSyrian refugees in Lebanon have endured increasing hardships since the onset of the Syrian war in 2011, with many resorting to child labor. Working refugee children endure socioeconomic deprivation and harsh working conditions. This study explores the relationship between working conditions and the reporting of injuries among male and female Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and the related gender differences.Methods and findingsA cross-sectional survey of Syrian refugee children working in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon was conducted in 2017. Face-to-face interviews with children (8 to 18 years) collected sociodemographic information and testimonies of their work experiences. Logistic regression tested the association between reporting of injuries and risk factors including school enrolment, field of work, means of transportation to work, age started working, number of working hours, multiple jobs, work pressure and hazards, and abuse. Analyses were stratified by gender.Of the 4090 surveyed working children, the majority reported working in agriculture (75.8%). Around a third (31.4%) reported being injured at work with a higher proportion in males. The most common reported injuries were cuts and wounds (44.9%), with males showing a higher proportion for all types of injuries compared to females. Nearly one fifth of reported injuries (19.8%) required medical attention in a hospital, with males reporting higher proportions than females for most types of injuries. The study findings revealed the association of multiple risk factors with an increased odds of reporting an injury, which included working in more than one job (AOR, 1.71; CI, 1.20–2.43; p = 0.003), working under pressure (AOR, 1.64; CI, 1.36–1.97; p<0.001), the use of sharp or heavy objects (AOR, 1.88; CI, 1.58–2.24; p<0.001), and experiencing physical abuse at work (AOR, 2.46; CI, 1.97–3.08; p<0.001). The odds of reporting an injury increased with every additional hour of work per day (AOR 1.08; CI, 1.02–1.14; p = 0.006). Most of these findings persisted in the male and female stratified models, with few exceptions. Males who went to work in a pickup truck had significantly lower odds of being injured than those who walked (AOR, 0.65; CI, 0.51–0.83; p = 0.001); this finding did not reach significance for females. Having longer work hours per day was significantly linked to higher odds of injury for females (AOR, 1.07; CI, 1.02–1.12; p = 0.008); but not for males. The main limitations of this study were its cross-sectional design and the use of self-reported variables.ConclusionsThis study is the first to obtain direct testimony on work-related injuries and working conditions, exploring gender differences, among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Results demonstrated the association between the occurrence of injury and multiple risk factors highlighting their strenuous working conditions, with some differences detected between males and females. Many injuries can be prevented through direct safety interventions and proper implementation of child labor policies. Multidimensional interventions are essential to address the complex evolving challenges facing refugees.

Burden of oral diseases and impact of protracted displacement: a cross-sectional study on Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Introduction Very little is known about the burden of childhood oral diseases in protracted humanitarian settings.Aim This study aimed to assess the prevalence of oral diseases in Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon and to investigate their relationship with the duration of displacement.Methods Data from Miles for Smiles programme for Syrian refugee schoolchildren in Bekaa/Lebanon were used (n = 823). A dental examination was performed to assess the presence of dental caries and abscess. A clinical form was used to collect data on the presence, intensity and duration of dental pain.Results The majority (90%) had dental caries, 57% had dental pain (of which 55% had moderate/severe pain and 38% had pain for more than a month) and 9% had dental abscess. After adjusting for age and gender, children in protracted displacement were significantly more likely to have a higher number of decayed teeth compared to their counterparts who had been displaced for less than five years (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.09-1.29; P <0.001).Conclusions The burden of oral diseases in Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon was high, particularly among those living in a protracted situation. There is a need for evidence-based effective public health interventions to improve this population's oral health.

Qu’en est-il de l’équilibre psychique des enfants réfugiés ?

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine to what extent the psychological balance of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon can be altered. Our goal is to identify the influence of the children's history and their current living conditions on their psychological balance. War refugees, and more particularly children and young adolescents, experience different crises and traumas linked to war, loss, exile, poor living conditions and integration in the host country. The current issue and the various researches that have been carried out have led to several questions about the impact that the war experience, the migratory history and the living conditions of these children can have on their psychological balance. The main questioning which therefore guides this research project is whether the psychological balance of these Syrian refugee children is altered and if so, to what extent. We have seen from the literature that studies on war refugees are rather rare. Immigrant populations in European populations are those that are generally studied because of their proximity and the relative ease of making contact, which is not the case in refugee camps. This is all the accurate for Lebanon, a country which, as we have seen, lacks any framework, procedure and structure relating to the organized reception of refugees. The main hypothesis of this research is that Syrian children living in more precarious living conditions and having a past history marked by potentially traumatic events, will have a less developed mental balance than others. Materials and methodsTwo groups of Syrian children living in Lebanon, aged between 8 and 12 years old, took part in this study. One of the groups being made up of children living in refugee camps and the other one made up of non-refugee children, living in conditions similar to their own in Syria. This research includes both girls and boys. All the children are of Syrian nationality, grew up in Syria and currently live in Lebanon. The collection of information and the study of the influence of the migratory experience of war and the living conditions of the children on their psychological balance, were carried out by means of three main tools: A semi-structured clinical interview available in three languages (in French, English and Arabic). A post-traumatic stress symptom rating scale was included in the questionnaire, the CRIES-13, which is an assessment questionnaire designed to measure the impact of events on children, and the free drawing test was proposed, followed by a survey following the child's production, analyzed from the model of Georges and Anna Cognet. ResultsThe collected data made it possible to observe an alteration in the psychological balance of Syrian refugee children, as well as significant differences between the two groups of children who participated in the study. ConclusionsThis is a study with a population that has so far not aroused much interest, despite the multitude of migratory crises of our century on all continents, and which could contribute to the assessment and the care of immigrant or displaced populations all over the world. Indeed, in view of the results obtained, the research contributes to the need for refugee support by countries and supranational organizations having the means or the responsibility to do so. The question of the consequences of the living conditions of refugees in the long term arises with the imperative, as a health professional, to find means of logistical, physical and in particular psychological care, for this fragile and large population. need for appropriate follow-up and support.

Challenges of teaching Syrian refugee children in Lebanon: teachers’ insights

ABSTRACT Education is a basic need in the lives of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and teachers, specifically, play a critical role in the quality of education these children receive. Their experiences provide a critical view of the reality of refugee education in Lebanon. The present study examines the challenges teachers face when teaching Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. The research adopts a phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews with teachers of Syrian refugee students in a public school in Beirut. Participants discussed psychological and academic needs of students, effectiveness of current methods, lack of parental support, their perceptions of the students, cultural and gender roles, personal experiences and beliefs, as well as teachers’ roles.

Health needs of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

Health needs of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

Post-migration risks, developmental processes, and learning among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

Refugee children face significant adversities that can threaten critical developmental processes and hamper learning outcomes. This study examines how post-migration risk factors at the community, household, and individual level experienced by primary school-aged Syrian refugee children in Lebanon (N = 448, Age M = 9.08, SD = 1.90) are associated with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral developmental processes as well as literacy and numeracy performance. We identified several risk factors, including attending a lower grade than their age-expected grade level, that uniquely predict Syrian refugee children's developmental processes and academic outcomes. Children's executive function and behavioral regulation, but not internalizing symptoms, partially mediated the relations between risk factors and academic outcomes.

The association between living conditions and health among Syrian refugee children in informal tented settlements in Lebanon.

This cross-sectional study explores the relationship between housing, social wellbeing, access to services and health among a population of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. We surveyed 1902 Syrian refugee households living in informal tented settlements in Lebanon in 2017. Logistic regressions assessed relationships between housing problems, socioeconomic deprivation, social environment and health. Of the 8284 children in the study, 33.0% had at least one health problem. A considerable number of households (43.1%) had > 8 housing problems. Children in these households had higher odds to have three or more health problems compared to children in households with < 6 housing problems (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.39; confidence interval [CI], 1.50-3.81). Nearly three-quarters (74.3%) of households were severely food insecure. Children in these households had higher odds to have one health problem than those in food secure households (AOR, 1.75; CI, 1.11-2.76). There was a significant positive association between households that reported being unhappy with their neighbourhood and the number of children with health problems in those households. This study highlights the association between the physical and social living conditions and refugee children's health. Without multidimensional interventions that consider improvements to living conditions, the health of young Syrian refugees will continue to worsen.

Ethical, methodological, and contextual challenges in research in conflict settings: the case of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

Research within conflict settings challenges the ethical assumptions of traditional research practice. The tensions between theory and practice were evident in a study of working children among Syrian refugee communities in Lebanon. While the study sought to introduce scientific evidence that might support effective policy solutions, its implementation was marked by a struggle to navigate bureaucracy, vested political interests, climates of xenophobia and sectarianism, and an unfolding military conflict that cast a shadow on the research initiative.The study pushed the researcher to examine privileged understandings of research ethics and elucidated structural, institutional, and societal obstacles beleaguering efforts to support refugees. Many of the challenges of the research process were structural in nature, tethered to the institutional and societal contexts within which the research was conceived and conducted. Some of these entrenched dynamics may be inescapable within the parameters of institutional research, while others may be addressed through greater awareness and preparation. Specifically, researchers studying refugee communities within conflict settings must intentionally reflect on the dynamics that govern refugee politics in the research context. Particular attention must be paid to the elements of xenophobia, violence, and fear that impact participants’ autonomy and agency within the study.Intentional engagement with these dynamics cannot insulate the research process from the coercive realities of the refugee experience, yet researchers do have the opportunity to transparently reaffirm their commitments to ethical practice.

Displacement, deprivation and hard work among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

BackgroundThe protracted Syrian war resulted in the largest refugee crisis of our time. The most vulnerable are children who face separation from parents, interruption of schooling and child labour. This...

Role of childhood adversities and environmental sensitivity in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder in war-exposed Syrian refugee children and adolescents.

Increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates have been documented in children exposed to war. However, the contribution of childhood adversities and environmental sensitivity to children's responses to adversities and trauma are still far from settled.AimsTo evaluate the relative roles of war, childhood adversities and sensitivity in the genesis of PTSD. Data on childhood adversities and sensitivity was collected from 549 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Reaction Index. Although childhood adversities, war events and sensitivity were all significantly related to PTSD in bivariate analyses, multivariate analyses showed that childhood adversities were the most important variable in predicting PTSD. The effect of war on PTSD was found to be dependent on the interplay between childhood adversities and sensitivity, and was most prominent in highly sensitive children with lower levels of adversities; in sensitive children experiencing high levels of adversities, the effects of war exposure on PTSD were less pronounced. When considering the effects of war on PTSD in refugee children, it is important to take account of the presence of other adversities as well as of children's sensitivity. Sensitive children may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of war exposure, but only in contexts that are characterised by low childhood adversities.Declaration of interestNone.

Chapter 9 – Migration, violent extremism and social exclusion

Chapter 9 – Migration, violent extremism and social exclusion

Health service utilization and access to medicines among Syrian refugee and host community children in Lebanon

With over 500,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, we undertook this study to assess unmet child health needs and health service utilization among Syrian refugees and affected host communities in Lebanon with the aim of informing humanitarian programming. A cross-sectional survey of Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon was conducted using a two-stage cluster survey design with probability proportional to size sampling. The questionnaire focused on access to health services, including a module on care seeking for children. The care seeking rate was 74.2 % among refugee and 89.0 % among host community households with a child less than 18 years seeking medical care the last time it was needed. Refugee households most often sought care in primary health care centers (52.7 %), followed by pharmacies (22.2 %) and private clinics (17.8 %), whereas host community households most often sought care in private clinics (47.6 %) and primary health care centers (23.2 %). Among child care seekers, 95.2 % of refugee and 94.6 % of host community children were prescribed medication during the most recent visit, of which 92.7 and 97.3 %, respectively, obtained the medication. Overall, 66.0 % of refugee and 75.9 % of host community households reported out-of-pocket expenditures for either the consultation or prescribed medications at the most recent visit (refugee mean US$30.4; host community mean US$56.0). Care seeking was significantly lower among refugees than the host community. Out-of-pocket payments were considerable for both groups, the majority of which were for medication, and cost was the primary barrier to both care seeking and attaining medications.