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The Impact of Armed Conflict on Health in Al-Raqqah Governate, Syria

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The Impact of Armed Conflict on Health in Al-Raqqah Governate, Syria The impact of armed conflict on health in Al-Raqqah governate, Syria Maartje Hoetjes The Netherlands Master in International Health September 2011– August 14, 2014 KIT (ROYAL TROPICAL INSTITUTE) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam, The Netherlands i The impact of armed conflict on health in Al-Raqqah governate, Syria. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master in International Health By Maartje Hoetjes The Netherlands Declaration: Where other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source, internet, or any other source) this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements. The thesis “The impact of armed conflict on health in Al-Raqqah governate, Syria” is my own work. Signature: Master International Health September 2011 – August 2014 KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)/VU (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) August 2014 Organized by: KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)/ Development Policy & Practice Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In Cooperation with: VU (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Free University of Amsterdam) Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In February 2013 I left to Turkey/Syria for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as medical responsible in an explorative mission. After completing the assessment, I stayed in Syria for several months to support the medical implementation and development of the Syrian mission, in different roles as project coordinator and medical coordinator. The complexity of the Syrian crisis and its disastrous impact on Syrian people’s lives has been my personal motivation to write this dissertation. This study is dedicated them. I would like to thank my thesis advisor for her support and encouragement throughout this study. I greatly appreciated her guidance and advice, which helped to keep me focused and motivated until the end. I would like to express my gratitude to the KIT course coordinators and facilitators for their advice and for making my master-study a very educative, interesting and enjoyable experience. I am extremely thankful to Thaer Alhusain, Naser Almhawish and Tammam Aloudat for sharing their stories and taking the time to teach me about their country and its people. Your dedication has been an inspiration for me. My gratitude goes out to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for making their data sets available for analysis. Thank you Dr. Thaer Alhusain, Dr. Naser Almhawish, Dr. Shah, Dr. Yamin Almosa Ibrahim and Vanessa Cramond for facilitating this process. I would like to thank my colleagues at MSF for their support during my work and study, and for their ongoing efforts to save lives and reduce suffering around this world. I am still proud every day to work amongst all of you. Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their continued support during my study and during my work in the field, for their understanding and worrying on my behalf when I am working in insecure contexts. You make it all possible. تكرس هذه الدراسة للشعب السوري iii TABLE OF CONTENT List of tables and figures.............................................................................................................................. vii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................. viii Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................ ix Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... x 1 Background on the Syrian Arab Republic and Al-Raqqah governate .................................................... 1 1.1 Short history on the country and the conflict ................................................................................... 1 1.2 Al-Raqqah governate ......................................................................................................................... 2 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Problem statement ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Justification ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2.3 Study objectives ................................................................................................................................ 5 2.3.1 General objective: ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.3.2 Specific objectives: .................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2.4.1 Framework................................................................................................................................. 5 2.4.2 Literature review ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.4.3 Key informant interviews .......................................................................................................... 6 2.4.4 Data sets .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.4.5 Ethical considerations................................................................................................................ 7 2.4.6 Thesis structure ......................................................................................................................... 7 3 Pre-war determinants of health ............................................................................................................ 8 3.1 Living and working conditions ........................................................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Employment and agriculture ..................................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Housing, water and sanitation .................................................................................................. 8 3.1.3 Education ................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1.4 Health system ............................................................................................................................ 9 iv 3.2 Social and community networks ....................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Lifestyle............................................................................................................................................ 10 3.4 Pre-war epidemiological profile ...................................................................................................... 11 3.4.1 Mortality ..................................................................................................................................11 3.4.2 Disability adjusted life years ....................................................................................................11 3.4.3 Morbidities ..............................................................................................................................12 3.4.4 Non-communicable diseases ...................................................................................................13 3.4.5 Infectious diseases...................................................................................................................13 3.4.6 Child health ..............................................................................................................................13 3.4.7 Nutritional conditions ..............................................................................................................14 3.4.8 Reproductive health ................................................................................................................14 3.4.9 Mental health ..........................................................................................................................14 4 The shift in social determinants of health and health indicators following the conflict. .................... 15 4.1 Living and working conditions ......................................................................................................... 15 4.1.1 Employment and purchasing power .......................................................................................15 4.1.2 Agriculture and food availability .............................................................................................15 4.1.3 Housing, water and sanitation ................................................................................................16 4.1.4 Environment ............................................................................................................................16 4.1.5 Education .................................................................................................................................16
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