The long-term burden of war injuries in LMICs: Case of the Lebanese War of 2006

Abstract Background Armed conflict is a major cause of disability and mortality, particularly in LMICs. July 12, 2006 marks the start of a 33-day war in Lebanon which resulted in at least 1191 deaths and 4409 injured, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Little is known about the consequences o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of public health 2020-09, Vol.30 (Supplement_5)
Main Authors: Kobeissi, E, Menassa, M, Honein-AbouHaidar, G, Abdul Khalek, R, Chaya, B, Elamine, A, Abu-Sittah, G, El Achi, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Activities of daily living
Anxiety
Chronic pain
Complications
Data analysis
Financial services
Hospitals
Injuries
Injury analysis
Medical records
Medical research
Mixed methods research
Mobility
Pain
Patients
Physical disabilities
Protection of civilians
Public health
Qualitative analysis
Quality of life
Referrals
Rehabilitation
Research design
Surgery
War
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Summary:Abstract Background Armed conflict is a major cause of disability and mortality, particularly in LMICs. July 12, 2006 marks the start of a 33-day war in Lebanon which resulted in at least 1191 deaths and 4409 injured, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Little is known about the consequences of war-injuries inflicted on civilians. The AUB arm of the NIHR PrOTeCT Group aims to identify 1) war-injury characteristics associated with high burden of care 2) the long-term socioeconomic burden and 3) the quality of life of the injured civilians and their access to healthcare and medicine under conditions of war. Methods This study employs a mixed-method research design by reviewing medical records of patients admitted to hospitals in Lebanon between July 12th and August 15th, 2006, conducting interviews with patients, and administering the EQ5D5L questionnaire to understand the burden of injuries and the quality of life of patients 13 years after injury. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods will be used. Preliminary Results 25 interviews have been conducted so far. Injured civilians were mostly males, average age 27. The most common mechanism of injury was blast injury. Most patients underwent multiple surgeries as well as revision surgeries. The emerging themes include description of the 1-scene and type of injury; 2-referral process from the injury site to the hospital; 3-the types of services received; and 4-the financial and non-financial long-term impact. They described the long-term burden including chronic pain, poor mobility, anxiety or depression, and limited activities of daily living. Conclusions These preliminary results show that civilians injured during the July 2006 war are experiencing physical and psychological sequelae; thus, more services need to be offered to civilians injured during war. Key messages Physical impairments related to war injuries influenced the quality of life of study participants. Affordable or free rehabilitation services need to be offered to civilians injured during war.
ISSN:1101-1262
1464-360X
DOI:10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1198