Living and health conditions of Palestinian refugees in an unofficial camp in the Lebanon: a cross-sectional survey (original) (raw)
Zabaneh, J.E., Watt, G.C.M. and O'Donnell, C.A. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5368-3779(2008) Living and health conditions of Palestinian refugees in an unofficial camp in the Lebanon: a cross-sectional survey.Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(2), pp. 91-97. (doi: 10.1136/jech.2006.054338)
Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2006.054338
Abstract
Objective To determine the living conditions and self-reported health of Palestinian refugees living in an unofficial camp in Lebanon.
Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Gaza displacement centre, Beirut, Lebanon. Participants 97 Households and 437 residents. Main outcome measures Household characteristics, including the number of rooms per household; access to outside air; the presence of mould and dampness. Resident characteristics, including age; educational attainment; and chronic conditions. Results Half of the households surveyed had only one room; 44% had three or more people per room; 11% had no external ventilation; 49% had no heating; 54% had mould and dampness. The use of wood or charcoal for heating was associated with an increase in mould and dampness (p = 0.015). 135 Members of the population (31%) were aged under 15 years; 130 (30%) had a chronic condition. Logistic regression results showed that overcrowding (odds ratio (OR) 3.26) and a member of the household living in Gaza buildings for more than 15 years (OR 0.48) were significantly associated with children under 15 years. Age over 45 years (OR 5.32), a member of the household in full-time employment (OR 0.58) and a member of the household living in Gaza buildings for more than 15 years (OR 1.71) were significantly associated with chronic disease. Conclusion This study demonstrates the poor conditions under which Palestinian refugees in unofficial camps live, resembling the slum housing of the United Kingdom in the last century. In the absence of routine data collection, research may be the only way to obtain such data for future public and environmental health planning.| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Watt, Professor Graham and O'Donnell, Professor Kate |
| Authors: | Zabaneh, J.E., Watt, G.C.M., and O'Donnell, C.A. |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicineH Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary CareCollege of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health |
| Publisher: | BMJ Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 0143-005X |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2008 BMJ Publishing Group |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 62:91-97 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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Deposit and Record Details
| ID Code: | 4473 |
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| Depositing User: | Users 157 not found. |
| Datestamp: | 02 Jul 2008 |
| Last Modified: | 01 May 2025 13:32 |
| Date of first online publication: | 2008 |