Public health risks of internally displaced persons (IDPS) in humanitarian emergencies : a case study of North Darfur, Sudan | |
| Author | Mahmoud, Elfadil Mohammed |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.DM-20- |
| Subject(s) | Health risk assessment--Sudan--Darfur Public Health--Sudan--Darfur Disasters--Sudan--Darfur |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Since February 2003, Darfur's western region of Sudan has experienced serious armed conflict, in 2004, officials of the United Nations described it as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Approximately 1.9 million have been displaced to camps characterized by overcrowding and exposed them to a serious health hazard of epidemic diseases; their vulnerability to health risks was increased due to the lack of access to basic services. This research aimed to assess the public health risks of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in humanitarian emergencies induced by armed conflict in North Darfur and to suggest appropriate measures and strategies for health risk reduction. This study was designed to cover both the household and health facilities level. The study implement a mix-method study design. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in three IDP camps. A total of 326 sample size was determined using Yamane (1967) formula, and an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data in the household level. An index-based approach was used to assess the households and health facilities' data. The level of public health risk was identified using health hazards, vulnerability, and capacity components. The study found that diarrheal diseases and malaria are the major health risks in camps. The main factors increasing the vulnerability of the IDPs to health risks were found to be inadequate water, poor sanitation, lack of hygiene, lack of access to health services. Shangil Tobaya camp (in a rural area) was found to be the most vulnerable and the most at high risk of infectious diseases (24.2%), followed by Zamzam (15.6%) and Abu Shouk (10.3%) at the household level. The three communities are different in their level of knowledge related to health risks. The capacity of the studied health centers were found to be low level in three centers, moderate in three centers, and only two health centers with a high level of capacity. This research has attempted to contribute to disaster public health risk reduction by providing both methods and assessment tools for public health risk assessment that suit the context of IDPs. Also, this research proposed a comprehensive public health risk assessment framework. This framework could be useful and can be replicated in other similar IDPs situation. Furthermore, the research will be very useful for decision-makers for effective public health risk reduction in the context of IDPs. |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development + School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Pal, Indrajit |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ahmed, Mokbul Morshed;Kusakabe, Kyoko |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Public Health Institute, Sudan;AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Insitute of Technology, 2020 |