Syrian Refugees In Jordan Research Articles

Assessing Barriers and Difficulties to Healthcare Access Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan: An Observational Study

(1) Background: Worldwide, refugees may have some difficulties in accessing healthcare services. However, little is known about the factors that may predict the level of accessibility to the public healthcare system in the host countries. (2) Aim: To examine the level of accessibility of Syrian refugees to the public healthcare system in Jordan and further to identify the prediction of socioeconomic factors and barriers to healthcare access. (3) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenient sample of 356 Syrian refugees residing outside camps (Irbid, Ajloun, and Jarash). Data were collected using the Access to Healthcare Services Scale instrument (adopted from the Canadian Community Health Survey), which is composed of 2 sections: the general access scale (8 items) and the difficulties scale (20 items). One-way ANOVA test and independent t-test were used to examine epidemiological correlations among variables, whereas a hierarchical linear regression model was used to examine the predictability of socioeconomic factors and barriers to overall access to the public healthcare system by exploring the incremental impact of additional predictors. (4) Results: the mean age of the 356 participants was 35.22 years old, 56.5% were female, 67.4% were married, most of them 46.1% have secondary education, and non-employed 69.9%. Significant associations were observed among participants with different marital status (p < 0.001), educational level (mean 11.85 vs. 19.85, p < 0.001), working status (15.47 vs. 17.93, p < 0.001), family household number (16.42 vs. 17.0, p < 0.001), and health insurance (none: 15.50 vs. governmental 24.50, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the most important factors that may predict the overall access to healthcare services were: family monthly income (beta −0.19, p < 0.001), household family number (beta 0.17, <0.001), health insurance (beta −0.09, p = 0.047), and barriers (beta −0.43, <0.001), even after adjusting for potential confounding effects: sex, age, educational level, and place of residence. (5) Conclusions: Our findings indicate that socioeconomic factors and barriers may considerably predict overall access to public healthcare in Jordan. It is crucially important, therefore, for the Jordanian government and international organizations to create and develop strategic plans and programs that enhance refugees’ access to health services, positively impacting their health and wellness.

Legal Protection For Syrian Refugees In Jordan

This Study Aims To Clarify The Nature Of The Rights And Guarantees Provided By International Humanitarian Law To Syrian Refugees In Jordan. Study Employed Both The Legal Method And The Case Study Method. The Findings Indicate That Jordan Is Deeply Committed To Covenants Related To Refugee Rights, Particularly The International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights And The International Covenant On Economic, Social, And Cultural Rights. Jordan Has Ratified Most Of The Relevant Covenants And Agreements. Despite Not Being A Signatory To The 1951 Refugee Convention, Jordan Has Approached The Issue Of Syrian Refugees With A High Level Of Humanitarianism. The Jordanian Government Refers To Syrian Refugees As "Guests" Rather Than Refugees. The Study Recommends The Development Of A Clear And Specific National Strategy For Dealing With Refugees, Particularly If The Crisis Persists For Many Years. Additionally, It Emphasizes The Importance Of Considering The Unique Circumstances Of Asylum Seekers, Such As The Burden Of Proof And Their Psychological Condition.

Mental Health Symptoms Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan: A Study of Predictive Factors

Abstract Date Presented 03/21/24 Refugees are often afflicted by a number of circumstances that affect their mental and physical health. This study promotes the awareness of the biopsychosocial impact of forced migration, which may affect participation, life quality, and well-being. Primary Author and Speaker: Mohammad Nazzal Additional Authors and Speakers: Roya Dalgamouni Contributing Authors: Alaa Oteir, Alham Al-Sharman, Hanan Khalil, Ayat Nashwan, Ghada Shahrour

The economic impact of COVID-19 on Syrian Refugees in Jordan: A review of existing evidence and policies

The global COVID-19 crisis has precipitated an economic downturn in many countries, subsequently raising concerns about the potential challenges faced by marginalized populations, such as refugees, in accessing essential healthcare, hygiene facilities, and critical health information and safety guidelines within the context of Jordan. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to investigate and evaluate the specific economic hurdles related to COVID-19 that refugees are encountering. This inquiry will serve as a valuable foundation for shaping public health interventions aimed at containing the virus’s spread and guiding policymakers on strategies to enhance the well-being of refugees in Jordan. This paper offers a comprehensive examination of Syrian refugees in Jordan, including an analysis of the policies implemented by Jordan concerning Syrian refugees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the report assesses whether international assistance, both through bilateral and multilateral channels, can mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Jordan’s capacity to continue hosting Syrian refugees. It also delves into the economic consequences of COVID-19, covering aspects such as poverty, education, the health sector budget, healthcare accessibility, essential needs, livelihoods, the labor market, and food security among Syrian refugees in Jordan.

DIALECT PREFERENCES AMONG THE SYRIAN REFUGEES IN JORDAN: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Background and Purpose: Taking into account the scarcity of research on Syrian refugees from the perspective of sociolinguistics, this research explored Syrian refugees’ reasons for dialect preferences when they communicate in various domains of life in Jordan. Methodology: The study employed a sequential mixed-methods design, which involved collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire of 20 items. Qualitative data were collected using the semi-structured interviews which were conducted with 18 Syrian refugees. While the quantitative data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, the transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were coded and analysed thematically. Findings: The results of the study showed that the majority of Syrian refugees use the Syrian Dialect with family members, Syrian friends, and colleagues at work, and Syrian neighbours. Further, the results revealed that most of the Syrian refugees prefer to use the Jordanian Dialect when they communicate with Jordanian neighbours and friends, and with Jordanians at the workplace and in educational contexts. The study revealed that the major reasons for dialect preferences among Syrian refugees are a desire for integration, close connection to their families, a sense of cultural familiarity, comfort in communication, interlocutors, and the importance of the formal context. Contributions: The findings of this research can contribute to research in sociolinguistics in terms of understanding the Syrian refugees’ dialect preferences. Keywords: Syrian refugees, sociolinguistics, dialect preferences, Jordan, integration. Cite as: Samaher, F., & Salasiah, C. L. (2024). Dialect preferences among the Syrian refugees in Jordan: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(2), 106-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss2pp106-130

Refugees as Entrepreneurs? A Challenge to HDP Programmes

ABSTRACT Protracted refugee situations in territories of war or natural hazards challenge the logic of the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus that inspires liberal humanitarianism. The organised expression of that nexus is the so-called ‘integrated approach’ in which humanitarian aid, development aid and peacebuilding are intertwined in missions aimed at promoting a durable peace. The experiences of camps for Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Jordan and of South Sudanese and Congolese refugees in Uganda question some basic assumptions of the HDP programmes. In the last two decades, the policies adopted in these locations show a two-fold reconfiguration of the HDP liberal programme: first, the aim of containing humanitarian crises locally, in the peripheries, thereby preventing their adverse effects spreading to the core of the international system; second, a focus on refugees’ capacity to become more resilient and entrepreneurial in order to overcome their vulnerable condition. Overall, this so-called neoliberal approach to humanitarianism with its focus on containment and individual entrepreneurship-inspired resilience has moved away from its liberal configuration as part of a systemic reconfiguration of local social fabric.

Marital quality in a context of displacement: the role of union formation characteristics among Syrian refugee and Jordanian youth

Marital quality is an important determinant of well-being and is related to how unions are formed. Both processes of union formation and marital relationships may be influenced by stressful conditions, including insecurity and displacement. We leverage unique representative data on young Syrian refugees in Jordan to learn more about the interplay between displacement, union formation characteristics and marital quality. Through comparisons with youth from the Jordanian host population, we assess the role of key contextual predictors of marital quality, such as consanguinity and young people’s role in choosing their spouse, with a focus on gender differences. We measure marital quality with six separate items capturing aspects of equality, respect and interpersonal communication and a unidimensional scale identified through exploratory factor analysis. Results show that consanguinity, marital duration and number of children are generally unrelated to marital quality in both populations. In contrast, involvement in spouse choice emerges as the strongest predictor, with both Syrians and Jordanians in family-arranged unions experiencing lower-quality marriages. Among Syrians, women suffer more from lower marital quality, especially when arranged unions happen at a young age, and marriages formed after displacement to Jordan appear more fragile. The study is one of the first to explore predictors of marital quality in a non-Western, conflict-affected population. The findings emphasise the importance of the demographic study of family dynamics in situations of insecurity and displacement moving beyond a narrow focus on marriage timing to cover a wider range of marriage outcomes related to family well-being.

Progression of Employment and Livelihoods Policies and Regulations for the Protracted Displacement of Refugees in Host Countries: Syrian Refugees in Jordan as a Case Study

Objectives: Three major research questions have been raised in this study to explain issues related to the employment and livelihood for Syrian refugees in Jordan and their experience to the existing employment and livelihood policies and regulations. Methods: To do so, the quantitative survey has been conducted with 390 respondents and qualitative interviews with 5 respondents to derive an outcome of the study. Results: The study concluded that the livelihood and employment of Syrian refugees in Jordan is a difficult problem that involves several different aspects. Conclusions: To address these difficulties, there will need to be a concerted and ongoing effort by the Jordanian government, as well as from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and players from the private sector.

The emergence and regression of political priority for refugee integration into the Jordanian health system: an analysis using the Kingdon’s multiple streams model

BackgroundThe prolonged presence of Syrian refugees in Jordan has highlighted the need for sustainable health service delivery models for refugees. In 2012, the Jordanian government adopted a policy that granted Syrian refugees access, free of charge, to the national health system. However since 2012, successive policy revisions have limited refugee access. This paper seeks to understand factors that initially put refugee integration into the health system on the policy agenda, as well as how these same factors later affected commitment to sustain the policy.MethodsThis paper draws on data from a document review of 197 peer-reviewed and grey literature publications, a media analysis of newspaper articles retrieved from four officially recognized newspapers in Jordan, and 33 semi-structured key informant interviews. We used Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Model – a well-established tool for analyzing policy adoption – to understand how political priority developed for integration of refugees into the health system.ResultsWe find that several factors helped bring attention to the issue, namely concerns over infectious disease transmission to host communities, high rates of chronic conditions among the refugee population and the increasingly urban and dispersed nature of refugees. At the outset of the conflict, the national mood was receptive to refugees. Politicians and government officials quickly recognized the crisis as an opportunity to secure material and technical support from the international humanitarian community. At the same time, global pressures for integrating refugees into national health systems helped move the integration agenda forward in Jordan and the region more broadly. Since 2012, there were several modifications to the policy that signal profound changes in national views around the continued presence of Syrian refugees in the country, as well as reduced external financial support which has undermined the sustainability of the policy.ConclusionThis case study underscores the dynamic nature of policymaking and the challenge of sustaining government commitment to the right to health among refugees. Our analysis has important implications for advocates seeking to advance and maintain momentum for the integration of refugees into national health systems.

Exploring Vaccination Challenges among Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Insights from Camps and Communities, and Perceived Parental Barriers to Childhood Vaccination Uptake.

To identify and understand the multifaceted barriers faced by Syrian refugees when seeking vaccination services for their children. A survey questionnaire was administered through structured interviews to a sample of Syrian refugees residing inside the Al-Zaatari camp and in various urban areas across Jordanian communities. This process utilized a multi-stage sampling approach, beginning with a random selection from clusters or strata, and then employing convenience sampling within each to select participants. The survey covered demographics, barriers to vaccination, and vaccine hesitancy. A total of 332 participants completed the survey with a mean age of 32.7 ± 10 years ranging from 18 to 67. More than half of the sample (59%) had an education of 11th grade or less. Sociodemographic disparities regarding barrier perception were evident among participants. Middle-aged adults (older than 32), males, and those with a monthly income less than USD 200 had scored significantly higher on barrier perceptions across all categories (p < 0.05). In-camp residents were less likely to face vaccination barriers compared to those living outside the camps (p < 0.001). Psychological antecedents of vaccine assessments showed that younger individuals had significantly higher scores in complacency, calculation, and constraints (p < 0.05). Participants with lower income had lower constraints and calculation scores (p < 0.05). In-camp residents had significantly higher scores in complacency, constraints, and calculation constructs compared outside camps counterparts (p < 0.05). Participants with no formal education had higher scores in complacency and constraints, and those with less than a 12th-grade education and higher education degrees scored significantly higher on the collective responsibility construct (p < 0.05). Efforts to promote vaccination among refugees should consider the specific challenges faced by this population, including financial barriers, healthcare access inequalities, and the impact of living arrangements. Public health strategies should address not only individual and psychological factors but also the physical and logistical challenges in obtaining vaccines.

The Impact of War Trauma and Housing Environment on Mental Wellbeing of Syrian Refugees in Jordan: A Comparison between In-Camp and Urban Populations

The aim of this study is to compare mental wellbeing and levels of post-trauma distress between Syrian refugees who live inside camps and those who live outside camps in Jordan through a survey-based cross-sectional design, where data were collected from 240 adult Syrian refugees in Jordan. The Arabic versions of the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF), and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used to quantitatively measure variables through descriptive statistics and multiple comparative analysis tests. Despite having no significant correlation with residence, findings of the MHC-SF showed significance for mental wellbeing with employment status and income. Whereas IES-R showed that camp refugees fared significantly better in terms of trauma effect than urban refugees. It can be concluded that Syrian refugees living inside camps were disadvantaged in terms of mental wellbeing but slightly less affected by war in comparison to those living in urban areas. Improved programs and policies are needed to uplift the mental wellbeing of Syrian refugees in Jordan and to minimize the destructive traumatic effects of the Syrian war on their wellness.

Seroprevalence of Human Brucellosis among Syrian Refugees in Jordan, 2022.

Brucellosis is prevalent in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated factors among Syrian refugees in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Syrian refugees who attended the Public Health Lab (PHL) in Al Mafraq governorate, during the period of May-June 2022 to obtain a health certificate, which is legally required to receive governmental authorization for employment in Jordan. Blood samples were obtained from participants and a serum specimen was tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against Brucella using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG kits (Vircell Microbiologists, Granada, Spain). A total of 1562 Syrian refugees were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged between 18 and 74 years, with a median age of 30 years at presentation. The majority were males (75.9%, n = 1186) and 24.1% (n = 376) were females. The Brucella ELISA IgG results were positive for 149 persons, with an overall seroprevalence rate of 9.5% (95% confidence interval: 8.0%-11.0%). Having animal-related occupations, residing outside refugee camps, consuming unpasteurized milk, handling animals or their tissues, and slaughtering animals within 6 months of study inclusion were significantly higher among the seropositive group. In the multivariate analysis, IgG-positive persons were 13 times more likely to report being diagnosed with brucellosis (OR = 13.1, 95% CI: 6.1-28.3; p ≤ 0.001). In addition, they were more likely to reside in the city of Al Mafraq, as opposed to a refugee camp (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.2; p = 0.025) and to have handled animals within 6 months of study inclusion (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1-8.9; p = 0.035). In conclusion, one-tenth of adult Syrian refugees were tested positive for Brucella ELISA IgG. Being diagnosed with brucellosis, residing in the city of Al Mafraq, as opposed to a refugee camp, and handling animals within 6 months of study inclusion were significantly associated with being positive for Brucella ELISA IgG. This study illustrates the need for improved brucellosis control measures via comprehensive vaccination of animals and enhanced laboratory detection and surveillance capacities, in addition to emphasizing the need for increased awareness sessions among Syrian refugees on the safe use and preparation of dairy products and safety practices of handling animals and their tissues.

Attitudes toward dementia and cognitive aging among Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan: A qualitative study

AbstractBackgroundMounting evidence is revealing disparities in cognitive function and heightened dementia risk among refugees, yet research in this area remains scant. Despite hosting the majority of the world’s refugee burden, limited‐resource countries like Jordan are facing challenges supporting older migrants’ needs. Syrian refugees experience high rates of dementia risk factors including cardiovascular disease, mental ill‐health, and traumatic exposures. The attitudes toward dementia amongst refugees in Jordan and what cognitive healthcare gaps this population faces remain a research gap. This study’s objectives are to identify refugees’ knowledge and attitudes toward dementia and cognitive aging, and to explore factors that facilitate or prevent access to cognitive healthcare in resource‐limited settings.Method32 older Syrian refugees were recruited through a local community‐based organization and interviewed in four gender‐concordant focus groups. Interviews were transcribed and translated, then coded using inductive thematic analysis.ResultAll refugees were 55 years or older and lived below the Jordanian poverty line. Results were organized using the Social Ecological Model of Health: 1) At the individual level, participants believed high levels of stress, including low socioeconomic status, poor health, and traumatic history from their refugee experience increased their dementia risk. 2) Interpersonally, there is a fear of dementia due to its possible impact and caregiving burden on loved ones, particularly with the stigma that surrounds the disease. 3) At the community level, participants noted that resettlement in Jordan – with shared language, religion, and culture – offered protective effects due to facilitated access to social connection, information, and mental health self‐care. 4) Finally, at the policy level, participants believed older refugees faced restrictive policies for economic aid, healthcare, and employment, presenting a significant barrier to healthy aging.ConclusionFindings from this study are the first to examine the perceptions of aging Syrian refugees in Jordan toward their cognitive aging. These results could provide essential data as the country develops its national dementia plan. Overall, participants understand their risk factors for dementia and endorse poor cognitive aging in a country that struggles to support its own population’s basic needs.

Coparenting, mental health, and the pursuit of dignity: A systems-level analysis of refugee father-mother narratives

Research on coparenting is virtually absent from the refugee literature, despite its importance for family systems, children's bio-behavioural and emotional development, and intergenerational responses to social change. In 2022, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with Syrian refugees in Jordan and used thematic analysis to examine how fathers and mothers (n = 15 dyads) enacted parenting together. We identified four approaches characterising how couples navigated coparenting interactions, family cohesion, and intergenerational change. These were negotiation, mirroring, anchoring, and transformation. Specifically, Syrian couples negotiated how to balance responsibilities, sought emotions and behaviours that reflected calm and respect, prioritised family togetherness over education or resettlement opportunities, and, strikingly, adopted gentler parenting approaches to transform intergenerational experiences. Underpinning these four themes were efforts to uphold family dignity. Syrians described themselves as ordinary parents, eschewing the label of refugee parents and building a normal life for their families after war and displacement. Our thematic analysis offers methodological and conceptual advances in exemplifying how to capture a dyadic understanding of coparenting and why refugees strive to parent in ways that sustain mental health and dignity. This systems-level analysis of coparenting in dignity is specifically relevant to strengthening the processes of family-level communication and to designing integrated programs that support caregiving, wellness, and family unity. Our findings lay the groundwork for developing a relational, agentic model of family caregiving systems in the context of precarity and forced displacement.

Attitudes toward dementia and cognitive aging among Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan: a qualitative study

BackgroundMounting evidence is revealing disparities in cognitive function and heightened dementia risk among refugees, yet research in this area remains scant. Despite bearing most of the world’s refugee burden, limited-resource countries like Jordan are facing challenges when dealing with refugee health. There is a lack of research on the attitudes toward dementia and the cognitive healthcare gaps among refugees in Jordan.Methods32 older (≥ 55 years) Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan were recruited through a local community-based organization and interviewed in four focus groups (2 female and 2 male groups). Interviews were transcribed and translated, then coded using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsMean age of the sample was 60.1 years and 53.1% were female. Only 34.4% rated their memory as good or excellent. Themes were organized using the socioecological model: 1) At the individual level, participants believed high levels of stress, including low socioeconomic status, poor health, and traumatic history from their refugee experience increased their dementia risk. 2) Interpersonally, there is a fear of dementia due to the possible impact and burden on loved ones, particularly with the stigma surrounding dementia. 3) At the community level, participants noted that resettlement in Jordan – with a shared language, religion, and culture – offered protective effects due to facilitated access to social connection, information, and mental health self-care. 4) At the institution and policy level, participants believed older refugees faced restrictive policies for economic aid, healthcare, and employment, presenting a significant barrier to healthy aging.ConclusionsFindings from this study are the first to examine the attitudes of Syrian refugees in Jordan toward dementia and cognitive aging. These results could provide essential data inclusive of refugees as Jordan develops its National Dementia Plan. Investing in dementia awareness interventions and age-friendly neighborhoods may benefit aging refugees in limited-resources settings.

Pathways to resilience and pathways to flourishing: Examining the added-value of multisystem research and intervention in contexts of war and forced displacement.

This paper examines the added-value that multisystem approaches bring to research and intervention in contexts of war and forced displacement. I highlight what is useful and truly innovative about systems-level work, aware that providing data-related evidence is only part of the story when connecting research to policy and practice. I discuss four types of added-value: these are conceptual, instrumental, capacity-building, and connectivity impacts that, respectively, aim to change current knowledge, improve implementation, build research skills, and strengthen network connectivity. Specifically, systems-based research can help transform the key frames of humanitarian work, fostering the more integrated and distributive models of professional assistance known as resilience and network humanitarianism. I argue that systems-level approaches on resilience and flourishing in war-affected and refugee populations help to articulate new mindsets, methodologies, partnerships, and ways of working relevant for humanitarian research, policy and practice. I focus attention on interdisciplinary, interventionist, prospective, transgenerational, and network-building initiatives. My specific examples cover the family context of mental health and trauma memory in Afghanistan, as well as program evaluation with Syrian refugees in Jordan, connecting stress biology to human experience, and social networks to psychological empowerment. The paper suggests future directions to support more effective and impactful systems-level work in protracted humanitarian crises.

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of narrative exposure therapy on post-traumatic stress disorder among Syrian refugees in Jordan

ObjectivesPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are common mental health disorders among refugees, and all require immediate mental health support to prevent short- and long-term detrimental health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of narrative exposure therapy (NET) in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety among Syrian refugees residing in Jordan. MethodsA two-arm randomized control trial was utilized. A total of 40 Syrian refugees aged 18 to 64 diagnosed with PTSD were randomly allocated to either the NET intervention group (n = 20) or the waitlist control group (n = 20) using a computer-generated allocation list with 1:1 allocation. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the Arabic rendition of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, while depression and anxiety symptoms were appraised using the Arabic adaptation of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25. Descriptive statistics were employed to characterize the sample and survey data. Independent t-tests were conducted to assess mean score differences in PTSD, anxiety, and depression between the intervention and control groups. ResultsPost NET intervention, significant reductions in PTSD (t = −10.00, P < 0.001), anxiety (t = −9.46, P < 0.001), and depression (t = −6.00, P < 0.001) scores were observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. Effect sizes were moderate for the trauma (Cohen’s d = 0.73) and depression (Cohen’s d = 0.79) symptoms and notably large for anxiety symptoms (Cohen’s d = 0.97). There were no adverse events related to study participation. The intervention achieved a 100% participant retention rate. ConclusionsThe results pertaining to retention rate, adherence to the study protocol, data completeness, cultural congruence, and participants’ satisfaction provided strong support for the future implementation of the full-scale RCT. NET may be a feasible and helpful approach for refugees and other patients with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Do Work Permits Work? The Impacts of Formal Labor Market Integration of Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Abstract The integration of refugees into host countries’ formal labor markets is increasingly recommended as a durable solution to forced migration. Yet, this policy response is a contentious political topic with little empirical evidence, especially in low- and middle-income host countries available to support policy. This article examines the impacts of integrating Syrian refugees into Jordan’s formal labor market. We use robust greedy one-to-one propensity score matching on comprehensive high-quality data from almost 75,000 Syrian refugee households collected between 2017 and 2019 to generate novel evidence on the socio-economic benefits of refugee labor market integration. Our findings show that the ability to access formal jobs, reflected by holding a work permit, is significantly associated with increased refugee income, strengthens food security, and reduces protection needs and child labor. These findings contribute to a better and knowledge-based understanding of a prominent policy response for forced migrants.

Trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and psychological well-being of Syrian refugees in Jordan and the United States.

Trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and psychological well-being of Syrian refugees in Jordan and the United States.

A qualitative study on the impacts of COVID-19 on the delivery of randomised controlled trials evaluating lay-delivered psychological interventions in five countries

COVID-19 is having substantial impacts on research conduct, including clinical trials. However, there is limited research investigating the impact of the pandemic on the conduct of clinical trials and barriers to the delivery of interventions. The current study contributes to filling this gap by investigating the impacts of COVID-19 and related mitigation strategies in the context of five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of lay-delivered psychological interventions for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Turkey. We conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively selected researchers (N = 14) across all five countries. Data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis. The trial researchers highlighted how COVID-19 has had pervasive impacts across different components of the trial including recruitment, assessment, intervention delivery, and supervision. These impacts were considered to influence the external and internal scientific validity of these trials, as well as some aspects of trial administration such as budgeting and the workforce. Various mitigation strategies to adapt to constraints imposed by pandemic responses were described by researchers, such as shifting to a remote intervention delivery and evaluation or adding COVID-19 measures to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on outcome data. The current piece provides an account of the impacts of COVID-19 on the conduct of trials of lay-delivered psychological interventions for refugees in five countries. Our findings will be valuable for researchers testing similar interventions during COVID-19 and other public health emergencies.