Culture, Gender and Health in the Humanitarian Context
Levy Einav1,2*, Alkan Michael2,3, GidronYori2,4, Livni Gillerman Yael5, RamotAdi6, Ben-Gal Lotte7 and Hanani Tal8
1FacuJty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
2The Israeli School of Humanitarian Aid, Israel
3School for International Health, Ben Gurion University, Israel
4SCA Labs, Charles de Gaulle University- Lille III, France
5Clalit Health Services, Israel
6Eden Aid, (NGO), Israel
7Soroka Hospital, Israel
8Natan- International Humanitarian Aid (NGO), Israel
Submission: January 19, 2018 ; Published: February 02, 2018
*Corresponding author: Einav Levy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, The Free University of Brussels (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 1031090 Brussel, Belgium, Tel: 972-52-6641333; Email: levygaea@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Levy E, Alkan M, GidronYori, Livni G Y, RamotAdi, et al. Culture, Gender and Health in the Humanitarian Context. JOJ Nurse Health Care. 2018; 6(2): 555681.DOI:10.19080/JOJNHC.2018.06.555681
Introduction
The current crisis in the Middle East caused one of the largest migrations in the recent history. More than 5 Million refugees in its neighboring countries, 7.6 million internally displaced and hundreds of thousands of migrants passed through Turkey and Greece toward Northern Europe [1]. Addressing the outcomes and consequences of this influx required profound efforts from the humanitarian sector. Multi-disciplinary approaches were developed and used within the context of this crisis, taking into account cultural differences between the Persons of Concern (POC) and the agencies involved.
Gender medicine within traditional societies is a crucial and fundamental component to address in the context of migrants on the move. Research shows that females are more vulnerable in humanitarian crisis; hence, there is a need to prioritize gender medicine [2,3]. Moreover, the reality of masses on the move, often in crowded buses and trains might increase the probability of sexual abuse, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and human trafficking [4-12]. Moreover, the reality of masses on the move, often in crowded buses and trains might increase the probability of sexual inappropriate behavior, sexual abuse and gender based violence (GBV). Likewise, destabilized populations are more prone the human trafficking, where women and children are the prime victims.
A recent report describing a field clinic in Presevotransit camp on the border of Serbia and Macedonia, (FYROM) raised a few gender related medical issues. The camp was established by the local government for registration and humanitarian support delivered to the migrants on their way to Northern Europe between 2015-2017.
In the report, physical trauma was diagnosed mainly in men (64%), probably due to war injuries. The infrequent reporting of injuries in women could possibly be due to having other priorities (e.g. child-care). Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) complaints rate was considerably low (1.8%), %) in comparison with other studies conducted with Syrian refugees in settled camps [13] showing rate of 6.95% of ObGyn reports. This gap might be due to language and cultural barriers: The medical team included Arabic speakers, but almost no staff member spoke languages originating from Afghanistan or some parts of Iraq [14].
Evidence from the clinic described above shows that reproductive health or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) were not addressed in the clinic. It might be the result of cultural barriers preventing complaints from the clinic's visitors; lack of diagnostic tools; lack of time and resources; lack of privacy in the clinic or low awareness of the medical staff.
Discussion and Recommendations
Cultural differences within the humanitarian context are amplified and require extra care. Especially as it comes to sensitive issues such as gender and health in traditional societies [15-17]. The findings described above might be a result of these differences, but when it comes to aid, practitioners are expected to perform in a pro-active manner. Several practices exist to address gender related health issues:
A. Practices such as including female practitioners affiliated with the culture of the patients, employing mediators rather than translators, experts in women's health and the possibility of spatial separation in the clinic to allow privacy for women. This privacy could be achieved by referring the patient to a separate space within the clinic where her male escort will not attend, and the separation should be subject to the patient consent. Moreover, medical mangers should consider allocating separate time slots only for women during the clinic opening hours.
B. To use a general approach and method of diagnoses through a protocol using specific questions related to gender health. It is advised to include a blank paper with a schematic body figure where the patient is asked to point the area of pain.
C. Suggesting and distributing feminine hygiene kits mainly to women at the reproductive age; and making contraception available to both men and women.
D. Distribution of contraceptives should be considered after consulting with community leaders and after deep confidential survey. Contraceptives, among other preventive methods, should be recommended as preventive measures to STIs, and not only to unwanted pregnancy.
E. Reaching out the women who seem to be leaders, and recruit them to advocate for women's health.
F. Sexual abuse and GBV medical outcomes in relief and humanitarian context are hard to prevent due to the increased vulnerability of women. An education program initiated and managed by an external agency requires a deep and long familiarity with the community addressed, which may not be possible to perform in people in transit. We recommend a policy of "Do no harm" - by which medical teams do not engage in subject of trauma and sexual abuse unless there is an adequate follow-up program to take care of the victims.
To conclude, the agency and its staff deployed in the field should keep in mind the question of- who is the most vulnerable, and what are the optimal measures to address this vulnerability without doing harm. We failed to find validated data or sufficient researches conducted on similar setting of migrants on the move. We call upon researchers and practitioners to promote data collections and reports about similar cases.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to thank NATAN Humanitarian organization and all the patients that took part in this study. Their participation will assist other migrants.
Compliance with Ethical Standards:
A. No funding was received.
B. All the authors declare no conflict of interest.
C. This paper does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.
References
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. UNHCR; c2001-2017. Syrian Regional Refugee Response-Inter-agency information sharing portal, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Sahib S (2017) Syrian Refugee Women: The Devastating Consequences of War Terror on Women and Children (Doctoral dissertation, Southern Connecticut State University).
- Samari G (2017) Syrian Refugee Women's Health in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan and recommendations for improved Practice. World Med Health Policy 9(2): 255-274.
- Sami S, Williams HA, Krause S, Onyango MA, Burton A, et al. (2014) Responding to the Syrian crisis: the needs of women and girls. Lancet 383(9923): 1179-1181.
- McGinn T, Austin J, Anfinson K, Amsalu R, Casey SE, et al. (2011) Family planning in conflict: results of cross-sectional baseline surveys in three African countries Confl Health 5(1): 11.
- Casey SE, Chynoweth SK, Cornier N, Gallagher MC, Wheeler EE (2015) Progress and gaps in reproductive health services in three humanitarian settings: mixed-methods case studies Confl Health 9(1): S3.
- Gulland A (2013) Syrian refugees in Lebanon find it hard to access healthcare, says charity. BMJ 346: 1869.
- Krause S, Williams H, Onyango MA, Sami S, Doedens W, et al. (2015) Reproductive health services for Syrian refugees in Zaatri camp and Irbid city, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: an evaluation of the minimum initial services package. Confl Health 9(1): S4.
- Kabakian-Khasholian T, Mourtada R, Bashour H, Kak FE, Zurayk H (2017) Perspectives of displaced Syrian women and service providers on fertility behaviour and available services in West Bekaa, Lebanon. Reprod Health Matters 25(sup1): 75-86.
- Chynoweth SK (2015) Advancing reproductive health on the humanitarian agenda: the 2012-2014 global review. Conflict and Health 9(1): I1.
- Tanabe M, Schaus K, Rastogi S, Krause SK, Patel P (2015) Tracking humanitarian funding for reproductive health: a systematic analysis of health and protection proposals from 2002-2013. Conflict and Health: 9(1): S2.
- Ferguson A, Shannon K, Butler J, Goldenberg SM (2017) A comprehensive review of HIV/STI prevention and sexual and reproductive health services among sex Workers in Conflict-Affected Settings: call for an evidence-and rights-based approach in the humanitarian response. Confl Health 11(1): 25.
- Sahlool Z, Sankri-Tarbichi AG, Kherallah M (2012) Evaluation report of health care services at the Syrian refugee camps in Turkey. Avicenna J Med 2(2): 25-28.
- Levy E, Alkan M, Shaul S, Gidron Y (2017) Medical conditions and treatment in a transit camp in Serbia for Syrian, Afghani, and Iraqi migrants. Journal of International Humanitarian Action 2(1): 11.
- Kambarami M (2006) Femininity, sexuality and culture: Patriarchy and female subordination in Zimbabwe. ARSRC, South Africa.
- Parker R (2009) Sexuality, culture and society: shifting paradigms in sexuality research. Culture. Cult Health Sex 11(3): 251-266.
- Amadiume I (2006) Sexuality, African religio-cultural traditions and modernity: Expanding the lens. Codesria Bulletin 1(2): 26-28.