IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0233757.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Health care workers in conflict and post-conflict settings: Systematic mapping of the evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Lama Bou-Karroum
  • Amena El-Harakeh
  • Inas Kassamany
  • Hussein Ismail
  • Nour El Arnaout
  • Rana Charide
  • Farah Madi
  • Sarah Jamali
  • Tim Martineau
  • Fadi El-Jardali
  • Elie A Akl

Abstract

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are essential for the delivery of health care services in conflict areas and in rebuilding health systems post-conflict. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically identify and map the published evidence on HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings. Our ultimate aim is to inform researchers and funders on research gap on this subject and support relevant stakeholders by providing them with a comprehensive resource of evidence about HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings on a global scale. Methods: We conducted a systematic mapping of the literature. We included a wide range of study designs, addressing any type of personnel providing health services in either conflict or post-conflict settings. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of the included papers and built two interactive systematic maps organized by country, study design and theme. Results: Out of 13,863 identified citations, we included a total of 474 studies: 304 on conflict settings, 149 on post-conflict settings, and 21 on both conflict and post-conflict settings. For conflict settings, the most studied counties were Iraq (15%), Syria (15%), Israel (10%), and the State of Palestine (9%). The most common types of publication were opinion pieces in conflict settings (39%), and primary studies (33%) in post-conflict settings. In addition, most of the first and corresponding authors were affiliated with countries different from the country focus of the paper. Violence against health workers was the most tackled theme of papers reporting on conflict settings, while workforce performance was the most addressed theme by papers reporting on post-conflict settings. The majority of papers in both conflict and post-conflict settings did not report funding sources (81% and 53%) or conflicts of interest of authors (73% and 62%), and around half of primary studies did not report on ethical approvals (45% and 41%). Conclusions: This systematic mapping provides a comprehensive database of evidence about HCWs in conflict and post-conflict settings on a global scale that is often needed to inform policies and strategies on effective workforce planning and management and in reducing emigration. It can also be used to identify evidence for policy-relevant questions, knowledge gaps to direct future primary research, and knowledge clusters.

Suggested Citation

  • Lama Bou-Karroum & Amena El-Harakeh & Inas Kassamany & Hussein Ismail & Nour El Arnaout & Rana Charide & Farah Madi & Sarah Jamali & Tim Martineau & Fadi El-Jardali & Elie A Akl, 2020. "Health care workers in conflict and post-conflict settings: Systematic mapping of the evidence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-35, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0233757
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233757
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233757
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233757&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0233757?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Noriko Fujita & Anthony B Zwi & Mari Nagai & Hidechika Akashi, 2011. "A Comprehensive Framework for Human Resources for Health System Development in Fragile and Post-Conflict States," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Kıbrıs, Arzu & Metternich, Nils, 2016. "The flight of white-collars: Civil conflict, availability of medical service providers and public health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 93-103.
    3. Ashrita Saran & Howard White, 2018. "Evidence and gap maps: a comparison of different approaches," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 1-38.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Syeda Kashfee Ahmed & David Jeffries & Anannya Chakraborty & Toby Carslake & Petra Lietz & Budiarti Rahayu & David Armstrong & Amit Kaushik & Kris Sundarsagar, 2022. "Teacher professional development for disability inclusion in low‐ and middle‐income Asia‐Pacific countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(4), December.
    2. Oyvat, Cem & Tekgüç, Hasan, 2019. "Ethnic fractionalization, conflict and educational development in Turkey," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 41-52.
    3. William Philbrick & Jacob Milnor & Madhu Deshmukh & Patricia Mechael, 2022. "Information and communications technology use to prevent and respond to sexual and gender‐based violence in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(4), December.
    4. Nina Ashley Dela Cruz & Alyssa Cyrielle B. Villanueva & Lovely Ann Tolin & Sabrina Disse & Robert Lensink & Howard White, 2023. "PROTOCOL: Effects of interventions to improve access to financial services for micro‐, small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), September.
    5. Kevin K. C. Hung & Sonoe Mashino & Emily Y. Y. Chan & Makiko K. MacDermot & Satchit Balsari & Gregory R. Ciottone & Francesco Della Corte & Marcelo F. Dell’Aringa & Shinichi Egawa & Bettina D. Evio & , 2021. "Health Workforce Development in Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management: The Need for Evidence-Based Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    6. Gloria Adobea Odei Obeng‐Amoako & Clarice Panyin Nyan & Joseph Clottey & Sheila Agyemang Oppong & Edward Kusi Asafo‐Agyei & Pacem Kotchofa & Charles Yaw Okyere & Solomon Zena Walelign & Takyiwaa Manuh, 2023. "PROTOCOL: The impact of infrastructure on low‐income consumers' nutritious diet, women's economic empowerment, and gender equality in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), September.
    7. Anja Bondebjerg & Trine Filges & Jan Hyld Pejtersen & Malene Wallach Kildemoes & Hermann Burr & Peter Hasle & Emile Tompa & Elizabeth Bengtsen, 2023. "Occupational health and safety regulatory interventions to improve the work environment: An evidence and gap map of effectiveness studies," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(4), December.
    8. Robert Apunyo & Howard White & Caroline Otike & Thomas Katairo & Susana Puerto & Drew Gardiner & Alison Annet Kinengyere & John Eyers & Ashrita Saran & Ekwaro A. Obuku, 2022. "Interventions to increase youth employment: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    9. Michaela Rogers & Kelly Lockwood & Elizabeth Speake & Fiona Campbell, 2023. "PROTOCOL: Domestic abuse interventions for mothers in or exiting prison: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(1), March.
    10. Anna Price & Siân de Bell & Naomi Shaw & Alison Bethel & Rob Anderson & Jo Thompson Coon, 2022. "What is the volume, diversity and nature of recent, robust evidence for the use of peer support in health and social care? An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), September.
    11. Idrissa Ouili, 2017. "Armed Conflicts, Children’s Education and Mortality: New Evidence from Ivory Coast," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 163-183, June.
    12. Oyvat, Cem & Tekgüç, Hasan, 2017. "Double squeeze on educational development: land inequality and ethnic conflict in Southeastern Turkey," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 16812, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    13. Syeda K. Ahmed & David Jeffries & Anannya Chakraborty & Petra Lietz & Amit Kaushik & Budiarti Rahayu & David Armstrong & Kris Sundarsagar, 2021. "PROTOCOL: Teacher professional development for disability inclusion in low‐ and middle‐income Asia‐Pacific countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    14. Anja Bondebjerg & Trine Filges & Jan H. Pejtersen & Bjørn C. A. Viinholt & Hermann Burr & Peter Hasle & Emile Tompa & Kirsten Birkefoss & Elizabeth Bengtsen, 2022. "PROTOCOL: Occupational health and safety regulatory interventions to improve the work environment: An evidence and gap map of effectiveness studies," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), June.
    15. Robert Apunyo & Howard White & Caroline Otike & Thomas Katairo & Sussana Puerto & Drew Gardiner & Alison A. Kinengyere & John Eyers & Ashrita Saran & Ekwaro A. Obuku, 2021. "PROTOCOL: Interventions to increase youth employment: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0233757. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.