Morbidity, healthcare needs and barriers to access medical care amongst local and displaced populations in west Dar’a and Quneitra, Southern Syria.

Abstract

Objectives 2.1 Primary objective To determine the health care needs for local population and IDP’s in west Dar’a and Quneitra by estimating the prevalence of underlying morbidities, vaccination coverage and identifying barriers to access to health care, in order to obtain a baseline that can guide MSF and actor response. 2.2 Secondary objectives The relevance of subjects for the (secondary) objective(s) has been informed by insights from reports of, and explorative meetings with MSF and medical NGOs active in southern Syria (section 3.2.3). Of the secondary objectives identified, similar objectives are reflected in MSF-ERB approved protocols for surveys conducted in the region. We formulated the objectives (and related indicators on page 15) as much as possible on basis of these approved secondary objectives . I. To describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the surveyed population including age, gender and household characteristics. II. To estimate the prevalence of self-reported morbidities in previous two weeks, an estimate of the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, and the main reasons for requiring medical care. III. To estimate the vaccination coverage for key vaccine preventable diseases in children aged 6-59 months. IV. To characterise health care utilisation, the degree of access to healthcare for common morbidities in the population (health seeking behviour) and determine the most common barriers to access to health care. V. To estimate the global acute malnutrition [GAM] rate of in children aged 6-59 months. VI. To estimate the prevalence of conflict-related trauma experienced during the recall period. VII. To what extent maternal and reproductive health services are utilized by assessed crisis-affected women of 15-49 years of age in this area. VIII. To estimate the retrospective mortality and cause of mortality, over the past 6 months (since Ramadan 2017). IX. To better understand the configuration of the health system following the crisis, the characteristics of care-seeking and the quality of the services.