How can humanitarian services provision during mass displacement better support health systems? An exploratory qualitative study of humanitarian service provider perspectives in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Open accessAbstract
Health services provision in mass displacement settings is a humanitarian imperative and essential to promoting international and regional security. Internationally displaced populations experience a range of issues pre-, peri-, post-displacement and residing in host countries that affect their health and well-being. This study examined links between humanitarian and government health services provision for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN) in Cox's Bazar to consider how improved knowledge sharing and collaboration might better support health systems during mass displacement. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study, interviewing 25 humanitarian service providers in-person in Bangladesh in early 2021 and analysing data thematically. We found that government restricted what essential services humanitarian health actors could provide and FDMN had to undergo stringent screening and referral to receive tertiary healthcare. Concurrently, the government health system was challenged by accessibility, affordability and availability of medicines, equipment, and trained staff. Humanitarian health service providers augmented government responses by working with community groups, recruiting and training Rohingya volunteers, and involving religious leaders. Findings suggest that easing barriers to a fuller range of health services, allowing access to digital devices, and hiring FDMN to support their communities would improve health system responsiveness to the legitimate needs of FDMN displaced around Cox's Bazar. It is imperative to amplify and listen to the voices of FDMN and collaborate in addressing structural and social barriers constraining their access to effective health services, both to increase trust in and responsiveness of the health system.
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- Authors
- Krishnan, S., Zaman, S., Ferdaus, M., Kabir, M. H., Khatun, H., Rahman, S. S., Marzouk, M., Durrance-Bagale, A., & Howard, N.
- Affiliations
- O. P. Jindal Global University (IN)
- BRAC University (BD)
- University of Dhaka (BD)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Venue
- Journal of Migration and Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- 100132
- ISSN
- 2666-6235 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9489749
- OpenAlex
- W4295414138
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 1.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Migration and Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Greater South Information System
- Funders
- Medical Research Council (MR/S013008/1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Migration, Racism, and Human Rights
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- humanitarian health services, mass displacement, Rohingya refugees, Cox's Bazar, health system responsiveness, refugee health, community participation, religious leaders, health workforce shortage
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