Display options
Cite
Abouzeid M, Elzalabany MK, Nuwayhid I, et al. Conflict-related health research in Syria, 2011-2019: a scoping review for The Lancet - AUB Commission on Syria. Confl Health. 2021;15(1):92doi: 10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3.
Abouzeid, M., Elzalabany, M. K., Nuwayhid, I., & Jabbour, S. (2021). Conflict-related health research in Syria, 2011-2019: a scoping review for The Lancet - AUB Commission on Syria. Conflict and health, 15(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3
Abouzeid, Marian, et al. "Conflict-related health research in Syria, 2011-2019: a scoping review for The Lancet - AUB Commission on Syria." Conflict and health vol. 15,1 (2021): 92. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3
Abouzeid M, Elzalabany MK, Nuwayhid I, Jabbour S. Conflict-related health research in Syria, 2011-2019: a scoping review for The Lancet - AUB Commission on Syria. Confl Health. 2021 Dec 14;15(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3. PMID: 34906178.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Confl Health. 2021 Dec 14;15(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3.

Conflict-related health research in Syria, 2011-2019: a scoping review for The Lancet - AUB Commission on Syria.

Conflict and health

Marian Abouzeid, Manal K Elzalabany, Iman Nuwayhid, Samer Jabbour

Affiliations

  1. The Lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
  2. Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation and Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O.Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
  4. The Lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. [email protected].
  5. Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O.Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. [email protected].

PMID: 34906178 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-021-00384-3

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The volume of health-related publications on Syria has increased considerably over the course of the conflict compared with the pre-war period. This increase is largely attributed to commentaries, news reports and editorials rather than research publications. This paper seeks to characterise the conflict-related population and humanitarian health and health systems research focused inside Syria and published over the course of the Syrian conflict.

METHODS: As part of a broader scoping review covering English, Arabic and French literature on health and Syria published from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2019 and indexed in seven citation databases (PubMed, Medline (OVID), CINAHL Complete, Global Health, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus), we analyzed conflict-related research papers focused on health issues inside Syria and on Syrians or residents of Syria. We classified research articles based on the major thematic areas studied. We abstracted bibliometric information, study characteristics, research focus, funding statements and key limitations and challenges of conducting research as described by the study authors. To gain additional insights, we examined, separately, non-research publications reporting field and operational activities as well as personal reflections and narrative accounts of first-hand experiences inside Syria.

RESULTS: Of 2073 papers identified in the scoping review, 710 (34%) exclusively focus on health issues of Syrians or residents inside Syria, of which 350 (49%) are conflict-related, including 89 (25%) research papers. Annual volume of research increased over time, from one publication in 2013 to 26 publications in 2018 and 29 in 2019. Damascus was the most frequently studied governorate (n = 33), followed by Aleppo (n = 25). Papers used a wide range of research methodologies, predominantly quantitative (n = 68). The country of institutional affiliation(s) of first and last authors are predominantly Syria (n = 30, 21 respectively), the United States (n = 25, 19 respectively) or the United Kingdom (n = 12, 10 respectively). The majority of authors had academic institutional affiliations. The most frequently examined themes were health status, the health system and humanitarian assistance, response or needs (n = 38, 34, 26 respectively). Authors described a range of contextual, methodological and administrative challenges in conducting research on health inside Syria. Thirty-one publications presented field and operational activities and eight publications were reflections or first-hand personal accounts of experiences inside Syria.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite a growing volume of research publications examining population and humanitarian health and health systems issues inside conflict-ravaged Syria, there are considerable geographic and thematic gaps, including limited research on several key pillars of the health system such as governance, financing and medical products; issues such as injury epidemiology and non-communicable disease burden; the situation in the north-east and south of Syria; and besieged areas and populations. Recognising the myriad of complexities of researching active conflict settings, it is essential that research in/on Syria continues, in order to build the evidence base, understand critical health issues, identify knowledge gaps and inform the research agenda to address the needs of the people of Syria following a decade of conflict.

© 2021. The Author(s).

References

  1. Sigal I. Syria’s war may be the most documented ever. And yet, we know so little. The World. 19 December 2016. Available from: https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-12-19/syrias-war-may-be-most-documented-ever-and-yet-we-know-so-little . Accessed 20 Aug 2020. - PubMed
  2. El-Khatib Z, et al. Syrian refugees, between rocky crisis in Syria and hard inaccessibility to healthcare services in Lebanon and Jordan. Confl Health. 2013;7(1):18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-7-18 . - PubMed
  3. Blanchet K, Fouad FM, Pherali T. Syrian refugees in Lebanon: the search for universal health coverage. Confl Heal. 2016;10(1):12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-016-0079-4 . - PubMed
  4. El Arnaout N, et al. Assessment of the health needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Syria’s neighboring countries. Confl Heal. 2019;13(1):31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-019-0211-3 . - PubMed
  5. Jabbour S, Leaning J, Nuwayhid I, Horton R, Das P. The lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria: a new role for global health in conflict and a call for papers. Lancet. 2016;388(10063):2967–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32583-1 . - PubMed
  6. Abdul-Khalek RA, Kayyal W, Akkawi AR, Almalla M, Arif K, Bou-Karroum L, et al. Health-related articles on Syria before and after the start of armed conflict: a scoping review for the lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria. Confl Heal. 2020;14(1):73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00316-7 . - PubMed
  7. World Health Organization. Everybody’s business. Strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes: WHO’s framework for action. 2007; Available from: https://www.who.int/healthsystems/strategy/everybodys_business.pdf . Accessed 13 May 2021. - PubMed
  8. Alasaad S. War diseases revealed by the social media: massive leishmaniasis outbreak in the Syrian spring. Parasites Vectors. 2013;6:3. - PubMed
  9. Ahmad B. Exploring the role of triangulation in the production of knowledge for urban health policy: an empirical study from informal settlements in Aleppo, Syria. Forum Dev Stud. 2014;41(3):433–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2014.963143 . - PubMed
  10. Hoetjes, M., et al., Emerging cases of malnutrition amongst IDPs in Tal Abyad district, Syria. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 133–137. - PubMed
  11. Rosman Y, Eisenkraft A, Milk N, Shiyovich A, Ophir N, Shrot S, et al. Lessons learned from the Syrian sarin attack: evaluation of a clinical syndrome through social media. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(9):644–8. https://doi.org/10.7326/M13-2799 . - PubMed
  12. Alshiekhly U, Arrar R, Barngkgei I, Dashash M. Facebook as a learning environment for teaching medical emergencies in dental practice. Educ Health. 2015;28(3):176–80. https://doi.org/10.4103/1357-6283.178609 . - PubMed
  13. Doocy S, Delbiso TD, Guha-Sapir D. The humanitarian situation in Syria: a snapshot in the third year of the crisis. PLoS Curr. 2015;7. - PubMed
  14. Doocy S, et al. Internal displacement and the Syrian crisis: an analysis of trends from 2011-2014. Confl Heal. 2015;9(1):33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-015-0060-7 . - PubMed
  15. Guha-Sapir D, et al. Civilian deaths from weapons used in the Syrian conflict. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2015;351:h4736. - PubMed
  16. Price M, Gohdes A, Ball P. Documents of war: understanding the Syrian conflict. Significance. 2015;12(2):14–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2015.00811.x . - PubMed
  17. Sekkarie MA, Zanabli AR, Rifai AO, Murad LB, al-Makki AA. The Syrian conflict: assessment of the ESRD system and response to hemodialysis needs during a humanitarian and medical crisis. Kidney Int. 2015;87(2):262–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.2014.336 . - PubMed
  18. Tajaldin B, et al. Defining polio: closing the gap in global surveillance. Ann Global Health. 2015;81(3):386–95. - PubMed
  19. Trelles M, Dominguez L, Tayler-Smith K, Kisswani K, Zerboni A, Vandenborre T, et al. Providing surgery in a war-torn context: the Medecins sans Frontieres experience in Syria. Confl Heal. 2015;9(1):36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-015-0064-3 . - PubMed
  20. Charlson FJ, Lee YY, Diminic S, Whiteford H. Applications of the epidemiological modelling outputs for targeted mental health planning in conflict-affected populations: the Syria case-study. Global Mental Health. 2016;3:e8. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2016.4 . - PubMed
  21. El-Khani A, et al. Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria. Global Mental Health (Cambridge, England). 2016;3:e15. - PubMed
  22. Elsafti AM, van Berlaer G, al Safadi M, Debacker M, Buyl R, Redwan A, et al. Children in the Syrian civil war: the familial, educational, and public health impact of ongoing violence. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10(6):874–82. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2016.165 . - PubMed
  23. Ismail SA, Abbara A, Collin SM, Orcutt M, Coutts AP, Maziak W, et al. Communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of conflict and mass displacement in Syria. Intern J Infect Dis. 2016;47:15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.011 . - PubMed
  24. Jefee-Bahloul H, Duchen D, Barkil-Oteo A. Attitudes towards implementation of store-and-forward Telemental health in humanitarian settings: survey of Syrian healthcare providers. Telemed J e-Health. 2016;22(1):31–5. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2015.0021 . - PubMed
  25. Mowafi H, Hariri M, Alnahhas H, Ludwig E, Allodami T, Mahameed B, et al. Results of a Nationwide capacity survey of hospitals providing trauma Care in war-Affected Syria. JAMA Surg. 2016;151(9):815–22. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2016.1297 . - PubMed
  26. Sparrow A, Almilaji K, Tajaldin B, Teodoro N, Langton P. Cholera in the time of war: implications of weak surveillance in Syria for the WHO’s preparedness-a comparison of two monitoring systems. BMJ Glob Health. 2016;1(3):e000029. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000029 . - PubMed
  27. Al-Saadi T, et al. Psychological distress among medical students in conflicts: a cross-sectional study from Syria. BMC Med Edu. 2017;17:173. - PubMed
  28. Alsaied T, Mawas A, al Sayah F, Kental A, Saqqur M. A new primary health-care system in the Syrian opposition territories: good effort but far from being perfect. Avicenna J Med. 2017;7(4):189–92. https://doi.org/10.4103/ajm.AJM_67_17 . - PubMed
  29. Arafat S, Alsabek MB, Ahmad M, Hamo I, Munder E. Penetrating abdominal injuries during the Syrian war: patterns and factors affecting mortality rates. Injury. 2017;48(5):1054–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2017.02.005 . - PubMed
  30. Baaity Z, Almahmoud I, Khamis A. Prevalence of extended spectrum β lactamases (ESBL) in E. coli at Al-assad teaching hospital. Res J Pharm Technol. 2017;10(7):2433–6. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-360X.2017.00430.9 . - PubMed
  31. Cummins, D. and S. Moharram, Aid in context: the importance of market-based approaches to aid delivery in northern Syria. IIED Briefing Paper - International Institute for Environment and Development, 2017(17424): 4. - PubMed
  32. Diggle E, Welsch W, Sullivan R, Alkema G, Warsame A, Wafai M, et al. The role of public health information in assistance to populations living in opposition and contested areas of Syria, 2012-2014. Confl Heal. 2017;11(1):33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-017-0134-9 . - PubMed
  33. Doocy S, Lyles E. Humanitarian needs among displaced and female-headed households in government-controlled areas of Syria. Am J Public Health. 2017;107(6):950–9. - PubMed
  34. Doocy S, et al. Emergency food assistance in northern Syria: an evaluation of transfer programs in Idleb governorate. Food Nutr Bull. 2017;38(2):240–59. - PubMed
  35. Elamein M, Bower H, Valderrama C, Zedan D, Rihawi H, Almilaji K, et al. Attacks against health care in Syria, 2015-16: results from a real-time reporting tool. Lancet. 2017;390(10109):2278–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31328-4 . - PubMed
  36. Fouad FM, Sparrow A, Tarakji A, Alameddine M, el-Jardali F, Coutts AP, et al. Health workers and the weaponisation of health care in Syria: a preliminary inquiry for the lancet–American University of Beirut Commission on Syria. Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2516–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30741-9 . - PubMed
  37. Fujita K, Shinomoto S, Rocha LEC. Correlations and forecast of death tolls in the Syrian conflict. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):15737. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15945-x . - PubMed
  38. Hawat M, Husein M, Almahmoud I. Epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Lattakia city among last ten years (2006-2016). Epidemiology. 2017;7(5):325. - PubMed
  39. Mohammad Y, Rafea S, Latifeh Y, Khaddam A, Sawaf B, Zakaria MI, et al. Uncontrolled and under-diagnosed asthma in a Damascus shelter during the Syrian crisis. J Thoracic Dis. 2017;9(9):3415–24. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2017.08.86 . - PubMed
  40. Sahloul E, Salem R, Alrez W, Alkarim T, Sukari A, Maziak W, et al. Cancer Care at Times of crisis and war: the Syrian example. J Global Oncol. 2017;3(4):338–45. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2016.006189 . - PubMed
  41. van Berlaer G, Elsafti AM, al Safadi M, Souhil Saeed S, Buyl R, Debacker M, et al. Diagnoses, infections and injuries in northern Syrian children during the civil war: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2017;12(9):e0182770. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182770 . - PubMed
  42. Abbas F, Sawaf B, Hanafi I, Hajeer MY, Zakaria MI, Abbas W, et al. Peers versus professional training of basic life support in Syria: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2018;18(1):142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1241-z . - PubMed
  43. Albaroudi IN, Khodder M, al Saadi T, Turk T, Youssef LA. Prevalence, diagnosis, and management of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among Syrian children in a major outpatient center in Damascus, Syria. Avicenna J Med. 2018;8(3):92–103. https://doi.org/10.4103/ajm.AJM_169_17 . - PubMed
  44. Ballouk MA, Dashash M. The gingival health status of 8-12 year-old children in Damascus city in Syria during the Syrian crisis: a cross-sectional epidemiological oral health survey. BMC Res Notes. 2018;11(1):887. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3998-x . - PubMed
  45. Chen B, Shrivastava A, Steorts RC. Unique entity estimation with application to the Syrian conflict. Ann Appl Stat. 2018;12(2):1039–67. - PubMed
  46. Darwish B, Mahfouz MZ, al-Nosairat S, Izzat MB. Changing pattern and outcome of pediatric chest injuries in urban Syria. Asian Cardiovasc Thoracic Ann. 2018;26(5):367–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/0218492318776565 . - PubMed
  47. de Lima Pereira A, et al. Infectious disease risk and vaccination in northern Syria after 5 years of civil war: the MSF experience. PLoS Curr. 2018;10. - PubMed
  48. Doocy S, Lyles E. Humanitarian needs in government controlled areas of Syria. PLoS Curr. 2018;10. - PubMed
  49. Footer KHA, Clouse E, Rayes D, Sahloul Z, Rubenstein LS. Qualitative accounts from Syrian health professionals regarding violations of the right to health, including the use of chemical weapons, in opposition-held Syria. BMJ Open. 2018;8(8):e021096. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021096 . - PubMed
  50. Garry S, Checchi F, Cislaghi B. What influenced provision of non-communicable disease healthcare in the Syrian conflict, from policy to implementation? A qualitative study. Conflict Health. 2018;12:45. - PubMed
  51. Guha-Sapir D, Schlüter B, Rodriguez-Llanes JM, Lillywhite L, Hicks MHR. Patterns of civilian and child deaths due to war-related violence in Syria: a comparative analysis from the violation documentation center dataset, 2011–16. Lancet Glob Health. 2018;6(1):e103–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30469-2 . - PubMed
  52. Haar RJ, Risko CB, Singh S, Rayes D, Albaik A, Alnajar M, et al. Determining the scope of attacks on health in four governorates of Syria in 2016: results of a field surveillance program. PLoS Med. 2018;15(4):e1002559. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002559 . - PubMed
  53. Idris A, et al. Smoking behaviour and patterns among university students during the Syrian crisis. Eastern Mediterranean Health J. 2018;4(2):154–60. - PubMed
  54. Khamis J, Ghaddar A. HIV/AIDS in Syria and the response of the national AIDS program during the war. Sex Transm Infect. 2018;94(3):173. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2017-053438 . - PubMed
  55. Kubitary A, Alsaleh MA. Validity of Arabic version of the two-question quick inventory of depression (QID-2-Ar): screening for multiple sclerosis in an Arab environment and during the Syrian war. Rev Neurol. 2018;174(3):137–44. - PubMed
  56. Kubitary A, Alsaleh MA. War experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders: clinical effectiveness of treatment by repeating phrases of positive thoughts (TRPPT) of mental-war disorders in Syrian refugees children and adolescents war victims - a new therapeutic trial. Sleep Hypnosis. 2018;20(3):210–26. - PubMed
  57. Meiqari L, Hoetjes M, Baxter L, Lenglet A. Impact of war on child health in northern Syria: the experience of Medecins sans Frontieres. Eur J Pediatr. 2018;177(3):371–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-3057-y . - PubMed
  58. Morrison C. Providing basic services under siege: preliminary insights from interim councils and medical providers in besieged urban areas of Syria. Environ Urban. 2018;31(1):309–24. - PubMed
  59. Othman M, Steel Z, Lawsin C, Wells R. Addressing occupational stress among health staff in nongovernment controlled northern Syria: supporting resilience in a dangerous workplace. Torture. 2018;28(3):104–23. https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v28i3.111200 . - PubMed
  60. Perkins JD, Ajeeb M, Fadel L, Saleh G. Mental health in Syrian children with a focus on post-traumatic stress: a cross-sectional study from Syrian schools. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2018;53(11):1231–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1573-3 . - PubMed
  61. Rehman K, Walochnik J, Mischlinger J, Alassil B, Allan R, Ramharter M. Leishmaniasis in northern Syria during civil war. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018;24(11):1973–81. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2411.172146 . - PubMed
  62. Rodriguez-Llanes JM, Guha-Sapir D, Schlüter BS, Hicks MHR. Epidemiological findings of major chemical attacks in the Syrian war are consistent with civilian targeting: a short report. Confl Heal. 2018;12(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-018-0150-4 . - PubMed
  63. Sawaf B, Abbas F, Idris A, al Saadi T, Ibrahim N. Specialty preference and intentions to study abroad of Syrian medical students during the crisis. BMC Med Educ. 2018;18(1):39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1146-x . - PubMed
  64. Sikder M, Daraz U, Lantagne D, Saltori R. Effectiveness of multilevel risk management emergency response activities to ensure free chlorine residual in household drinking water in southern Syria. Environ Sci Technol. 2018;52(24):14402–10. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b03487 . - PubMed
  65. Sikder M, Daraz U, Lantagne D, Saltori R. Water, sanitation, and hygiene access in southern Syria: analysis of survey data and recommendations for response. Confl Heal. 2018;12(1):17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-018-0151-3 . - PubMed
  66. Turk T, al Saadi T, Alkhatib M, Hanafi I, Alahdab F, Firwana B, et al. Attitudes, barriers, and practices toward research and publication among medical students at the University of Damascus, Syria. Avicenna J Med. 2018;8(1):24–33. https://doi.org/10.4103/ajm.AJM_116_17 . - PubMed
  67. Wong CH, Chen CY. Ambulances under siege in Syria. BMJ Glob Health. 2018;3(6):e001003. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001003 . - PubMed
  68. Ahmad B, Fouad FM, Zaman S, Phillimore P. Women’s health and well-being in low-income formal and informal neighbourhoods on the eve of the armed conflict in Aleppo. Int J Public Health. 2019;64(1):75–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1150-2 . - PubMed
  69. Abu Salem FK, et al. FA-KES: A fake news dataset around the Syrian War, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Web and Social Media, ICWSM 2019; 2019. p. 573–82. - PubMed
  70. Alaryan T, Hasan TA, Eshelli M, Alzeer S. The misuse of prescribed drugs during the Syrian crisis: a cross-sectional study. Int J Ment Heal Addict. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00180-4 . - PubMed
  71. Alhaffar BA, Abbas G, Alhaffar AA. The prevalence of burnout syndrome among resident physicians in Syria. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2019;14(1):31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-019-0250-0 . - PubMed
  72. Alhaffar BA, et al. Oral health and socio-economic status among children during Syrian crisis: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19(1):165. - PubMed
  73. Alhammoud A, Maaz B, Alhaneedi GA, Alnouri M. External fixation for primary and definitive management of open long bone fractures: the Syrian war experience. Int Orthop. 2019;43(12):2661–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-019-04314-0 . - PubMed
  74. Alothman MH, et al. Challenges and opportunities in reporting trauma-related research: a case study from Syria. Indian J Neurotrauma. 2019;16(2–3):91–3. - PubMed
  75. Ballouk MA, Dashash M. Caries prevalence and dental health of 8-12 year-old children in Damascus city in Syria during the Syrian crisis; a cross-sectional epidemiological oral health survey. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0713-9 . - PubMed
  76. Blackwell A, Casey J, Habeeb R, Annan J, Falb K. Women’s status and qualitative perceptions of a cash assistance programme in Raqqa governorate, Syria. Gender Dev. 2019;27(2):253–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2019.1624047 . - PubMed
  77. Douedari Y, Howard N. Perspectives on rebuilding health system governance in opposition-controlled Syria: a qualitative study. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2019;8(4):233–44. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2018.132 . - PubMed
  78. Duclos D, Ekzayez A, Ghaddar F, Checchi F, Blanchet K. Localisation and cross-border assistance to deliver humanitarian health services in north-West Syria: a qualitative inquiry for the Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria. Confl Health. 2019;13(1):20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-019-0207-z . - PubMed
  79. Falb KL, Blackwell A, Stennes J, Hussein M, Annan J. Depressive symptoms among women in Raqqa governorate, Syria: associations with intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and perceived needs. Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2019;6:e22. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2019.20 . - PubMed
  80. Fardousi N, Douedari Y, Howard N. Healthcare under siege: a qualitative study of health-worker responses to targeting and besiegement in Syria. BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029651. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029651 . - PubMed
  81. Fradejas-Garcia I. Humanitarian remoteness: aid work practices from ‘little Aleppo’. Soc Anthropol. 2019;27(2):286–303. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8676.12651 . - PubMed
  82. Hallak J, Koyuncu M, Mic P. Determining shelter locations in conflict areas by multiobjective modeling: a case study in northern Syria. Int J Disaster Risk Reduction. 2019;38:15. - PubMed
  83. Hamid SH, Dashash MAD. The impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on dental and gingival status of children during Syrian crisis: a preliminary study. J Investig Clin Dent. 2019;10(1):e12372. https://doi.org/10.1111/jicd.12372 . - PubMed
  84. Hamzeh A, Almhanni G, Aljaber Y, Alhasan R, Alhasan R, Alsamman MHDI, et al. Awareness of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy among a group of diabetic patients in main public hospitals in Damascus, Syria during the Syrian crisis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019;19(1):549. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4375-8 . - PubMed
  85. Jamal Z, Alameddine M, Diaconu K, Lough G, Witter S, Ager A, et al. Health system resilience in the face of crisis: analysing the challenges, strategies and capacities for UNRWA in Syria. Health Policy Plan. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz129 . - PubMed
  86. Mic P, Koyuncu M, Hallak J. Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) Location-Allocation with Multi-Objective Modelling: A Case Study in Idleb, Syria. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):811. - PubMed
  87. Mohammad Y, Shaaban R, Salman HA, Shabraq BN, Dubaybo B. Improving the quality of hospital care provided for asthma out-patients in a country in turmoil: a report from Syria. J Thorac Dis. 2019;11(3):1047–55. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2019.02.76 . - PubMed
  88. Muhjazi G, Gabrielli AF, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Atta H, Osman M, Bashour H, et al. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria: a review of available data during the war years: 2011-2018. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019;13(12):e0007827. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007827 . - PubMed
  89. Okeeffe J, et al. The blast wounded of Raqqa, Syria: observational results from an MSF-supported district hospital. Conflict Health. 2019;13:9. - PubMed
  90. Ri S, Blair AH, Kim CJ, Haar RJ. Attacks on healthcare facilities as an indicator of violence against civilians in Syria: an exploratory analysis of open-source data. PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0217905. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217905 . - PubMed
  91. Roumieh M, Bashour H, Kharouf M, Chaikha S. Prevalence and risk factors for postpartum depression among women seen at primary health care Centres in Damascus. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):519. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2685-9 . - PubMed
  92. Terkawi AS, Bakri B, Alsadek AS, al-Hasan AH, Alrahhal MS, Alsaleh FM, et al. Child and adolescent health in northwestern Syria: findings from healthy-Syria 2017 study. Avicenna J Med. 2019;9(2):61–74. https://doi.org/10.4103/AJM.AJM_184_18 . - PubMed
  93. Terkawi AS, Bakri B, Alsadek AS, Alsibaee RH, Alasfar EM, Albakour AH, et al. Women’s health in northwestern Syria: findings from healthy-Syria 2017 study. Avicenna J Med. 2019;9(3):94–106. https://doi.org/10.4103/ajm.AJM_190_18 . - PubMed
  94. Vernier L, Cramond V, Hoetjes M, Lenglet A, Hoare T, Malaeb R, et al. High levels of mortality, exposure to violence and psychological distress experienced by the internally displaced population of Ein Issa camp prior to and during their displacement in Northeast Syria, November 2017. Confl Health. 2019;13(1):33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-019-0216-y . - PubMed
  95. Youssef A, Harfouch R, el Zein S, Alshehabi Z, Shaaban R, Kanj SS. Visceral and cutaneous Leishmaniases in a City in Syria and the effects of the Syrian conflict. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019;101(1):108–12. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0778 . - PubMed
  96. Ziveri, D., S. Kiani, and M. Broquet, The impact of psychosocial support on well-being and agency within an inclusive livelihood programme. Intervention (15718883), 2019. 17(1): 86–95. - PubMed
  97. Hallam R. Response to Syria’s health crisis. Lancet. 2013;382(9893):679–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61769-9 . - PubMed
  98. Harrison S, Dahman R, Ismail M, Saada E, Hassan M, Hassan R, et al. Against all odds’: UNHCR’s mental health and psychosocial support programme for Iraqi refugees and internally displaced Syrians. Intervention. 2013;11(2):190–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.WTF.0000431851.46268.f8 . - PubMed
  99. Hasanin A, et al. Syrian revolution: a field hospital under attack. Am J Disaster Med. 2013;8(4):259–65. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2013.0132 . - PubMed
  100. Sankari A, Atassi B, Sahloul MZ. Syrian field hospitals: a creative solution in urban military conflict combat in Syria. Avicenna J Med. 2013;3(3):84–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0770.118467 . - PubMed
  101. Alahdab F, Omar MH, Alsakka S, Atassi B, al-Moujahed A. Syrians’ alternative to a health care system: “field hospitals”. Avicenna J Med. 2014;4(3):51–3. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0770.133329 . - PubMed
  102. Al-Makki A, et al. The Syrian National Kidney Foundation: response for the need of kidney patients during the crisis. Avicenna J Med. 2014;4(3):54–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0770.133331 . - PubMed
  103. Attar S. Field hospitals in Syria. Lancet (London, England). 2014;383(9914):303. - PubMed
  104. Dolan, C., Coordinating the response to the Syria crisis: the southern Turkey cross border experience. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 138–139. - PubMed
  105. Egendal, R. and A. Badejo, WFP’s emergency programme in Syria. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 113–117. - PubMed
  106. Joury E. Constructing hope and peace in Syrian dental education during the country’s time of difficulty: success in Syrian smiles. Educ Health. 2014;27(1):71–2. https://doi.org/10.4103/1357-6283.134326 . - PubMed
  107. Khudari, H., M. Bozo, and E. Hoff, WHO response to malnutrition in Syria: a focus on surveillance, case detection and clinical management. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 118–121. - PubMed
  108. Kingori, J., et al., Nutrition response to the Syria crisis: UNICEF’s perspective. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 160–163. - PubMed
  109. Littledike, E. and C. Beck, Experiences and challenges of programming in Northern Syria. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 122–125. - PubMed
  110. Reed, H., GOAL’s food and voucher assistance programme in Northern Syria. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2014(48): 128–132. - PubMed
  111. Hakeem O, Jabri S. Adverse birth outcomes in women exposed to Syrian chemical attack. Lancet. 2015;3(4):e196. - PubMed
  112. Saeed B. The effect of the Syrian crisis on organ transplantation in Syria. Experimental Clin Transpl. 2015;13(2):206–8. - PubMed
  113. Jefee-Bahloul H, Barkil-Oteo A, Shukair N, Alraas W, Mahasneh W. Using a store-and-forward system to provide global Telemental health supervision and training: a case from Syria. Academic Psychiatry. 2016;40(4):707–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-015-0423-9 . - PubMed
  114. Moughrabieh A, Weinert C. Rapid deployment of international tele-intensive care unit Services in war-Torn Syria. Ann Ame Thoracic Soc. 2016;13(2):165–72. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201509-589OT . - PubMed
  115. Abdulahi, M., Experiences of Nutrition Sector coordination in Syria. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2017(56): 25–28. - PubMed
  116. Abdullah, S.F. and L.S. Baker, Experiences of the ‘Whole of Syria’ coordination for nutrition. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2017(56):79–83. - PubMed
  117. Madani, W.B.M., Development and added value of the Nutrition Cluster in Turkey. Field Exchange - Emergency Nutrition Network ENN, 2017(56): 11–15. - PubMed
  118. Mohammad A, et al. Practice of teleradiology in crisis zones: the unique case of Syria. Lancet Global Health. 2017;5(4):e399–400. - PubMed
  119. Aburas R, Najeeb A, Baageel L, Mackey TK. The Syrian conflict: a case study of the challenges and acute need for medical humanitarian operations for women and children internally displaced persons. BMC Med. 2018;16(1):65. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1041-7 . - PubMed
  120. Alrifai A, Alyousef T, Fanari Z. Tele-cardiology in the Syrian war. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(6):698–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.01.001 . - PubMed
  121. Ghbeis MB, Steffen KM, Braunlin EA, Beilman GJ, Dahman J, Ostwani W, et al. Tele-pediatric intensive Care for Critically ill Children in Syria. Telemed J e-Health. 2018;24(8):621–3. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2017.0216 . - PubMed
  122. Lester N. Introducing a trauma-informed practice framework to provide support in conflict-affected countries: the case of the Syrian white helmets. RUSI J. 2018;163(6):28–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2018.1562016 . - PubMed
  123. Masrani A, Mamoun I, Tarabishy B, Tarabishy A, Arabi M. Delivering humanitarian Teleradiology services to besieged areas in Syria. J Am College Radiol. 2018;15(8):1175–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2018.03.052 . - PubMed
  124. Mbaeyi C, et al. Strategic response to an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, Syrian Arab Republic, 2017-2018. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2018;93(25):362–8. - PubMed
  125. Muhjazi G, Baghdadi S, Dye C, Qusaibaty M. Sustaining a national tuberculosis control programme during civil crisis: 6 years of experience in Syria. Lancet Respir Med. 2018;6(4):255–6. - PubMed
  126. Kouba L, Amin B, Azzam A. Online education opportunity for Syria’s future doctors. Lancet. 2019;394(10211):1805–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31899-9 . - PubMed
  127. Quay I. Rapid gender analysis and its use in crises: from zero to fifty in five years. Gend Dev. 2019;27(2):221–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2019.1615282 . - PubMed
  128. Attar S. The hell of Syria’s field hospitals. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(23):2205–7. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1603673 . - PubMed
  129. Attar S. Syria’s humanitarian crisis. J Bone Joint Surg (Am Vol). 2014;96(9):e74.1–3. - PubMed
  130. Fakhouri F. Neurosurgery under siege - stories from Aleppo and the Syrian war: a narrative article. Asian J Neurosurg. 2017;12(2):342–3. - PubMed
  131. Kaadan MI, Cranmer H. The Management of the Khan Al-Assal Chemical Attack in Aleppo University hospital (AUH). Disaster Med Public Health Prepared. 2018;12(5):663–5. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2017.132 . - PubMed
  132. Mahomed Z, Motara F, Bham A. Humanitarian medical response to the Syrian Arab Republic (April 7, 2013 to April 23, 2013). Prehospital Disaster Med. 2016;31(1):114–6. - PubMed
  133. Kassem M. A Syrian neurosurgeon’s journey. Surg Neurol Int. 2016;7(1):6. https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.173405 . - PubMed
  134. Saadi TA, Abbas F, Turk T, Alkhatib M, Hanafi I, Alahdab F. Medical research in war-torn Syria: medical students’ perspective. Lancet. 2018;391(10139):2497–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31207-8 . - PubMed
  135. Turk T, Aboshady OA, Albittar A. Studying medicine in crisis: Students’ perspectives from Syria. Med Teach. 2016;38(8):861–2. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2016.1204432 . - PubMed
  136. Coutts A, Fouad FM, Abbara A, Sibai AM, Sahloul Z, Blanchet K. Responding to the Syrian health crisis: the need for data and research. The lancet. Respir Med. 2015;3(3):e8–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00041-7 . - PubMed
  137. Taleb ZB, et al. Syria: health in a country undergoing tragic transition. Intern j Public Health. 2015;60:S63–72. - PubMed
  138. Rehr M, et al. Prevalence of non-communicable diseases and access to care among non-camp Syrian refugees in northern Jordan. Confl Heal. 2018;12:33. - PubMed
  139. Abbara A, et al. The effect of the conflict on Syria’s health system and human resources for health. World Health Popul. 2015;16(1):87–95. - PubMed
  140. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. The global report on internal displacement 2019. [cited 2019 Oct]; Available from: http://www.internal-displacement.org/global-report/grid2019/ - PubMed
  141. Siege Watch. Siege Watch: final report – out of sight, Out of Mind: The Aftermath of Syria’s Sieges. 2019 [cited 2019 Oct]; Available from: https://siegewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/pax-siege-watch-final-report-spread.pdf . - PubMed
  142. Syrian Network for Human Rights. Record of Arbitrary Arrests. 2019. http://sn4hr.org/blog/2018/09/24/record-of-arbitrary-arrests1/ . Accessed 21 May 2021. - PubMed
  143. Zachariah R, Ford N, Draguez B, Yun O, Reid T. Conducting operational research within a non governmental organization: the example of Médecins Sans Frontières. Int Health. 2010;2(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inhe.2009.12.008 . - PubMed
  144. Leresche E, Truppa C, Martin C, Marnicio A, Rossi R, Zmeter C, et al. Conducting operational research in humanitarian settings: is there a shared path for humanitarians, national public health authorities and academics? Confl Heal. 2020;14(1):25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00280-2 . - PubMed
  145. Bariscil A. An emergency academic support - Syrian refugee students in the Turkish higher education. Romanian J Multidimensional Educ / Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala. 2017;9(1):39–49. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/2017.0901.03 . - PubMed
  146. Watenpaugh K, et al. We will stop here and go no further: Syrian university students and scholars in Turkey. New York: Institute of International Education; 2014. p. 55. - PubMed
  147. El Achi N, et al. A conceptual framework for capacity strengthening of health research in conflict: the case of the Middle East and North Africa region. Glob Health. 2019;15:81. - PubMed

Publication Types