Anemia and Nutritional Status of Syrian Refugee Mothers and Their Children under Five Years in Greater Beirut, Lebanon

Abou-Rizk, Joana; Jeremias, Theresa; Nasreddine, Lara; Jomaa, Lamis; Hwalla, Nahla; Tamim, Hani; Frank, Jan; Scherbaum, Veronika

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136894

Cited by 19 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The anemia level in our study were not too far from findings recorded in Argentina (28.9%) [57] and South Africa (33%) [58]. As for wasting, recent surveys conducted among Syrian refugees and Lebanese children aged six to 59 months in Lebanon showed that childhood wasting was maintained to about 5% in 2018-2021 [17,50]. However, a similar prevalence of wasting was found among infants of Sahrawi refugees [47].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…In addition, Syrian refugees in Turkey reported that malnutrition and fatigue of mothers were often the biggest obstacles to breastfeeding [59]. These findings shed the light on the role of adequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation as it impacts the development and health of the offspring [75,76], which was particularly difficult to achieve among Syrian refugee mothers in Greater Beirut, Lebanon [17,18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…However, it was also mentioned by the mothers that insufficient maternal nutrition and poor health were major reasons to halt breastfeeding prematurely. Among Syrian refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon, lactating mothers were found to have higher proportions of nutritional inadequacies and 19.4% of them suffered from anemia [17]. In addition, Syrian refugees in Turkey reported that malnutrition and fatigue of mothers were often the biggest obstacles to breastfeeding [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supporting Factors and Barriers Related to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants of Syrian Refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon: A Mixed Methods Study

Abou-Rizk¹,

Jeremias²,

Nasreddine³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The objective is to describe infant feeding practices and the nutritional status of infants under six months among Syrian refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Syrian refugee mothers with children under five years (July-October 2018), mothers with infants under six months were included in the analysis (n=114). Additionally, eleven focus groups discussions were conducted to explore supportive factors and barriers associated with early breastfeeding practices. The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding was high (62.5%), whereas early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) was low (31%), and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) very low (24.6%). About one-fifth of the infants were suffering from anemia (20.5%) and 9.6% were wasted. Supporting factors of adequate infant feeding practices comprised knowledge on maternal nutrition and EBF, in addition to receiving support from healthcare professionals and family members. Identified barriers included preterm delivery, pre-lacteal feeding, an at-risk waist circumference and moderate to severe depression among mothers, bottle feeding, early introduction of food, maternal health reasons, breastmilk substitutes’ distribution, and misinformation offered by mothers-in-law. To address sub-optimal feeding practices documented among Syrian refugees in our study, existing infant and young child feeding policies and programs need to be strengthened and revised to tackle the identified gaps.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supporting Factors and Barriers Related to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants of Syrian Refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon: A Mixed Methods Study

Abou-Rizk¹,

Jeremias²,

Nasreddine³

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…Previous reports also showed that Syrian refugees are at risk for inadequate antenatal care, adolescent pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes [ 47 , 48 ]. In addition, nutritional inadequacy was identified in higher proportions of lactating and pregnant Syrian refugee mothers in Turkey and Lebanon [ 48 , 49 ]. Promoting the education of girls will greatly contribute to the healthy nutrition of Syrian children by both increasing health literacy and preventing adolescent marriages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding practices among Syrian refugees in Turkey

Yalçın

Nergız

Elci³

et al. 2022

Int Breastfeed J

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Background We evaluated (a) opinion of Syrian and Turkish healthcare workers (HCWs), and perceptions and attitudes of Syrian refugee mothers, pregnant women, fathers and grandmothers on age-appropriate breastfeeding, (b) the effect of cultural characteristics, migration and pandemics on Syrian’s infant nutrition, and (c) the suggestions of HCWs and Syrian family members to improve breastfeeding practices in the Syrian refugee society in a qualitative study. Methods The qualitative study consisting of structured focus group discussions (FGDs) was held in four provinces in Turkey where Syrian refugees live intensely in September and October 2020. Seven different types of online FGDs were held with Turkish HCWs working in maternity hospitals, Syrian HCWs working in Refugee Health Centers (RHCs), Syrian pregnant women, mothers, fathers, and grandmothers. In total, we carried out 46 FGDs with 335 individuals. Thematic analysis of the transcripts in a deductive-inductive fashion was carried out with MAXQDA 11. Results Most Syrian HCWs did not get any training on breastfeeding counseling. The short duration of breastfeeding in Syrian refugees was seen to be related to the cultural characteristics, and migration. Some cultural characteristics can be summarized as “believing that breastfeeding harms mother’s health”, “adolescent marriages”, “wanting to have as many children as possible”, “giving anise to infants and not breastfeeding at night”, “prelacteal feeding”, “believing that milk is not enough”, “over controlling mother–child interaction by grandmothers, which limits the interaction”, “short pregnancy intervals”, and “not using modern family planning techniques”. We found out that migration increased the tendency for adolescent pregnancies, deepened the poverty, and decreased family social support. We did not observe any change in breastfeeding practices during pandemics. Conclusions Breastfeeding counseling programs should be designed in consideration of cultural characteristics of Syrian HCWs and family members. Continuing health education programs for family members with socially appropriate interventions to prevent adolescent marriages are important.

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“…In across sectional study among Syrian refugees anemia prevalence based on hemoglobin concentration was estimated to be 48.4% in Zaatari camp under ve years old children in Jordan (49,50), and 25.8% anemia prevalence in Lebanon (50). In most recent assessment anemia recorded 30.5% prevalence under ve years old children in Greater Beirut in Lebanon (51).…”

Section: Child Health Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

The impact of crisis and COVID 19 on Syrian children growth, health awareness and nutritional practices. A cross-sectional study

HARPHOUSH

Shahood

Harphoush

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: Despite the great steadfastness that Syria has achieved in the face of more than a decade of stifling crisis followed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the heavy impacts of these long rough years are certain and crucial on the health and nutrition levels, specially on vulnerable groups like women and children. Moreover, the lack of research and data on health and nutritional status of children within Syria makes it very difficult to draw conclusions and act effectively.the purpose of the current study was to evaluate growth development and give an insight about the public health awareness and nutritional practices among Syrian primary schools children.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among private and public primary schools students aged 6 to 9 years old in Homs governorate in January to April 2021, anthropometric measures were taken and data about nutritional practices and health awareness were assessment by conducting two surveys answered by parents and students.Results: We defined the prevalence of obesity (5.3%, 8.2%), severely wasted (3.9%, 5.2%) and stunting (15.7%, 7.8%) for public and private schools respectively with a significant higher stunting prevalence among public schools student. Differences in nutritional practices and health awareness were recorded between public and private schools students under socioeconomic impact.Conclusions: This study contributes to evaluate the burden of crisis and COVID-19 pandemic on Syrian children growth and health practices in Syria. Improving health awareness and nutritional support among Syrian families to help children meet their growth needs is recommended. Moreover, additional research should be conducted to evaluate micro-nutrients deficiencies and provide appropriate medical support effectively.

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Anemia and Nutritional Status of Syrian Refugee Mothers and Their Children under Five Years in Greater Beirut, Lebanon

Cited by 19 publications

References 74 publications

Supporting Factors and Barriers Related to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants of Syrian Refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon: A Mixed Methods Study

Supporting Factors and Barriers Related to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants of Syrian Refugees in Greater Beirut, Lebanon: A Mixed Methods Study

Breastfeeding practices among Syrian refugees in Turkey

The impact of crisis and COVID 19 on Syrian children growth, health awareness and nutritional practices. A cross-sectional study

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