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Self-Rated Health and Relative Socioeconomic Deprivation in the Palestinian Refugee Communities of Lebanon

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Abstract

Most Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are marginalized as refugees, poor, and targets of discrimination. This study seeks to understand deprivation among these refugees through an exploration of the relationship between indicators of general health and economic deprivation. A nationally representative sample of 2501 Palestinian refugee households were randomly selected and surveyed in 2010. Social workers interviewed the homemaker in each household using a questionnaire on health, economic, and socio-demographic information. This data was analyzed to understand the associations between health and levels of deprivation. 31% of respondents reported poor health and nearly 52% of households had two or more poverty indicators. The logistic regression found each degree of deprivation associated with a 33% increase in poor health (OR 1.33; CI 1.20–1.47). This study suggests understanding deprivation among impoverished communities requires a nuanced approach. Generalizations about experiences of poverty will generate ineffective policy and intervention strategies.

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Notes

  1. This paper uses the term ‘relative disadvantage’, because the vast majority of Palestinian households would be considered disadvantaged compared to the average Lebanese nationals.

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Funding

This study was supported by FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (Grant No. SC-A-33/R082/000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh, 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon

    Rima R. Habib, Safa Hojeij & Kareem Elzein

  2. Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh, 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jad Chaaban

Authors
  1. Rima R. Habib
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  2. Safa Hojeij
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  3. Kareem Elzein
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  4. Jad Chaaban
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Correspondence to Rima R. Habib.

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Habib, R.R., Hojeij, S., Elzein, K. et al. Self-Rated Health and Relative Socioeconomic Deprivation in the Palestinian Refugee Communities of Lebanon. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 1257–1265 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00869-7

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