Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
Journal of Humanitarian Affairs. 2023 November 23; Volume 5 (Issue 2); 24-29.; DOI:10.7227/JHA.107
Leyland J, Tiller S, Bhattacharya B
Journal of Humanitarian Affairs. 2023 November 23; Volume 5 (Issue 2); 24-29.; DOI:10.7227/JHA.107
While health misinformation is important to address in humanitarian settings, over-focusing on it can obfuscate a more holistic understanding of a community’s needs in a crisis. Through Médecins Sans Frontières’ experience of deploying a platform to tackle health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this field report argues that, while important, health misinformation became a diversionary topic during COVID-19, which represented a lack of trust between communities, humanitarian organisations and health institutions, rather a fundamental obstacle to effective humanitarian interventions.
From our practitioners’ viewpoint, we reflect on the deployment of the ‘MSF Listen’ platform in our programmes and how it evolved from a purely misinformation-focused digital tool to a broader workflow and approach to understanding community needs in crises through accountable management of community feedback.
From our practitioners’ viewpoint, we reflect on the deployment of the ‘MSF Listen’ platform in our programmes and how it evolved from a purely misinformation-focused digital tool to a broader workflow and approach to understanding community needs in crises through accountable management of community feedback.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 December 1; Volume 69 (Issue 8); 1898-1908.; DOI:10.1177/00207640231179323
Shaw SA, Lee CT, Ahmadi M, Karim Shor Muluk H, Mohamed Jibril Z, et al.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 December 1; Volume 69 (Issue 8); 1898-1908.; DOI:10.1177/00207640231179323
BACKGROUND
Among refugees residing in countries of first asylum, such as Malaysia, high rates of psychological distress call for creative intervention responses.
AIMS
This study examines implementation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model promoting emotional well-being and access to services.
METHOD
The one-session intervention was implemented in community settings by refugee facilitators during 2017 to 2020. 140 Participants including Afghan ( n = 43), Rohingya ( n = 41), and Somali ( n = 56) refugees were randomized to receive either the intervention at baseline, or to a waitlist control group. At 30 days post-intervention, all participants completed a post-assessment. Additionally, after completing the intervention, participants provided feedback on SBIRT content and process.
RESULTS
Findings indicate the intervention was feasible to implement. Among the full sample, Refugee Health Screening-15 emotional distress scores reduced significantly among participants in the intervention group when compared to those in the waitlist control group. Examining findings by nationality, only Afghan and Rohingya participants in the intervention condition experienced significant reductions in distress scores compared to their counterparts in the control condition. Examining intervention effects on service access outcomes, only Somali participants in the intervention condition experienced significant increases in service access compared to the control condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate the potential value of this SBIRT intervention, warranting further research.
Among refugees residing in countries of first asylum, such as Malaysia, high rates of psychological distress call for creative intervention responses.
AIMS
This study examines implementation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model promoting emotional well-being and access to services.
METHOD
The one-session intervention was implemented in community settings by refugee facilitators during 2017 to 2020. 140 Participants including Afghan ( n = 43), Rohingya ( n = 41), and Somali ( n = 56) refugees were randomized to receive either the intervention at baseline, or to a waitlist control group. At 30 days post-intervention, all participants completed a post-assessment. Additionally, after completing the intervention, participants provided feedback on SBIRT content and process.
RESULTS
Findings indicate the intervention was feasible to implement. Among the full sample, Refugee Health Screening-15 emotional distress scores reduced significantly among participants in the intervention group when compared to those in the waitlist control group. Examining findings by nationality, only Afghan and Rohingya participants in the intervention condition experienced significant reductions in distress scores compared to their counterparts in the control condition. Examining intervention effects on service access outcomes, only Somali participants in the intervention condition experienced significant increases in service access compared to the control condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate the potential value of this SBIRT intervention, warranting further research.
Journal Article > ReviewFull Text
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2019 January 1; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1097/COH.0000000000000514
Khwairakpam G, Burry J
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2019 January 1; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1097/COH.0000000000000514
With increasing availability of generic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and associated price reductions, various governments, multilateral institutions, and donors have started providing testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. More data on the quality of these generic medicines and on cost-effectiveness of their use are becoming widely available. This review seeks to describe some of the treatment programs for HCV that are evolving in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Int AIDS Soc. 2011 April 8; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/1758-2652-14-7
van Cutsem G, Saphonn V, Saramony S, Vibol U, Zhang FJ, et al.
J Int AIDS Soc. 2011 April 8; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/1758-2652-14-7
To better understand the need for paediatric second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), an ART management survey and a cross-sectional analysis of second-line ART use were conducted in the TREAT Asia Paediatric HIV Observational Database and the IeDEA Southern Africa (International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS) regional cohorts.
Protocol > Research Study
Stringer B, Alcayna T, Caleo GNC, Carrion-Martin I, Froud A, et al.
2020 June 1
What are the perceptions of community groups toward preserving their health and wellbeing during a COVID-19 outbreak?
Both rural, urban, camp, open and conflict settings will be included. Recognising that different locations may have been exposed to COVID-19 in its early phase, it will continue to explore within each setting throughout the outbreak period. So far, the following sites are to be included:
• Nigeria: Anka and Benue IDP camps (Pilot)
• Jordan: Syrian refugee Zaatari camp
• Iraq: Syrian and Iraqi refugee camp(s)
• Sierra Leone: Tonkolili project (Pilot)
• Malaysia: Penang Rohingya refugees : Myanmar Pauktaw camp, Rakhine state
• Bangladesh:Cox Bazaar camps and Kamrangirchar peri-urban slum
• Ethiopia Gambella camp
• Democratic Republic of Congo: South Kivu (Fizi and Kimbi-Lulenge health zones)
Further sites may be submitted to ERB during the outbreak.
Both rural, urban, camp, open and conflict settings will be included. Recognising that different locations may have been exposed to COVID-19 in its early phase, it will continue to explore within each setting throughout the outbreak period. So far, the following sites are to be included:
• Nigeria: Anka and Benue IDP camps (Pilot)
• Jordan: Syrian refugee Zaatari camp
• Iraq: Syrian and Iraqi refugee camp(s)
• Sierra Leone: Tonkolili project (Pilot)
• Malaysia: Penang Rohingya refugees : Myanmar Pauktaw camp, Rakhine state
• Bangladesh:Cox Bazaar camps and Kamrangirchar peri-urban slum
• Ethiopia Gambella camp
• Democratic Republic of Congo: South Kivu (Fizi and Kimbi-Lulenge health zones)
Further sites may be submitted to ERB during the outbreak.