Helpdesk Report: Health and Nutrition for Displaced Populations

This report includes information on psychosocial impacts of protracted displacement, including a look at gender issues

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2013
Document Type:
Literature Review
Theme:
Food and Nutrition, Governance and Conflict, Health
Authors:
Foster, G., Bolton, L.

Abstract

Query

(1) Produce a report focused on evidence of the most appropriate ways to support health and nutrition outcomes for management of protracted population displacement.
(2) Highlight information on psychosocial social impacts of protracted displacement (including gender).

Summary

Findings on health and nutrition management of protracted population displacement include:

  • A synthesis of food assistance programme evaluations finds unacceptably high numbers of refugees were food-insecure, women more so than men.
  • A review of nutrition indicators evaluating performance of nutrition programmes in more than 90 camps in 18 countries found supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes exceeded nearly all standards.
  • A feeding programme in Thailand used funds to subcontract the Burmese Border Consortium to organise food and fuel needs for Burmese refugees.
  • Evaluation of managing health in a protracted refugee situation in Kakuma, Kenya, shows the advantages of specialisation in delivering healthcare.
  • A district in Uganda used a planning mechanism called ‘Quality Design’ to bring user expectations together with technical standards for service integration.
  • Long-term support for protracted refugees fits uneasily with conventional donor funding modalities.

Findings on psychosocial impacts of displacement include:

  • Experience of conflict and displacement inherently involves exposure to a range of stressors and has the potential to negatively impact the mental health and well-being of everyone affected.
  • Although protracted displacement increases the risk of mental health disorders, it is striking that more people do not develop them. Factors preventing adverse mental health outcomes are likely to be individualised and include an individual’s natural response to stress, and social support networks available.
  • UNHCR have recommendations and guidelines to operationalise mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in those experiencing protracted displacement.
  • Experience of gender based violence (GBV) has been significantly associated with increased risk of poor mental health outcomes.
  • Children experience stressors associated with displacement differently to adults.

Citation

Bolton, L.; Foster, G. Helpdesk Report: Health and Nutrition for Displaced Populations. Health & Education Advice & Resource Team (HEART), (2013) 30 pp.

Published 1 January 2013
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