An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises. Update October 2015

The review addresses evidence on interventions in humanitarian crises (including early recovery and forced displacement) for health topics

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2015
Document Type:
Systematic Review
Theme:
Health, Humanitarian Disasters and Emergencies
Authors:
Smith, J., Roberts, B., Hossain, M., Dahab, M., Lewis, C., Blanchet, K., Frison, S., Knight, A., Pantuliano, S., Ramesh, A., Sistenich, V., Warren, E., Woodward, A., Post, N, Ruby, A.

Abstract

'An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises', highlights the need for further research to strengthen the evidence base on public health interventions in humanitarian crises.

In 2013, ELRHA's R2HC programme commissioned the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to conduct an assessment of the evidence-base that informs global public health programming in humanitarian crises, and to identify priority areas for new research. Building on this, LSHTM have updated the initial review to provide valuable guidance to the humanitarian health community on the effectiveness and delivery methods used in a range of health sectors such as water, sanitation and hygiene; nutrition; communicable disease control; and sexual and reproductive health.

The overall aim of the review is to provide a rigorous assessment of the current quality and depth of the evidence-base that informs humanitarian public health programming globally. The review therefore assesses the quantity and quality of intervention studies, rather than measuring the actual effectiveness of the intervention itself.

The review addresses evidence on interventions in humanitarian crises (including early recovery and forced displacement) for health topics of:

  • communicable disease control;

  • water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH);

  • nutrition;

  • sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including gender-based violence (GBV);

  • mental health and psychosocial support;

  • non-communicable disease (NCD);

  • injury and physical rehabilitation;

  • health services, and health systems.

In addition, contextual factors influencing the delivery of health-related interventions are included in the review, consisting of: access to health services, health assessment methods, coordination, accountability, health worker security, and urbanisation.

Citation

Blanchet, K.; Sistenich, V.; Ramesh, A.; Frison, S.; Warren, E.; Hossain, M.; Knight, A.; Lewis, C.; Smith, J.; Woodward, A.; Dahab, M.; Pantuliano, S.; Roberts, B.; Post, N; Ruby, A. An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises. Update October 2015. LSHTM, London, UK (2015) 266 pp.

An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises. Update October 2015

Published 1 January 2015
Contents