Experiences of Egypt as a destination and transit country for Syrian refugee healthcare workers: a qualitative study

BMC Health Services Research

Research

Diana Rayes¹  Yamama Bdaiwi²  Saad Janoudi³  Andrew Ghobrial⁴  Natasha Howard⁵  Ammar Sabouni⁶  Aula Abbara⁷ 

[1] Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA;Syria Public Health Network, London, UK;Department of War Studies, King’s College London, London, UK;Faculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt;London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore;Syria Development Centre, London, UK;Syria Public Health Network, London, UK;Imperial College, St Mary’s Hospital London, W2 1NY, London, UK;

关键词: Egypt;    Refugees;    Doctors;    Conflict;    Syria;    Healthcare;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-023-09889-4

 received in 2022-11-03, accepted in 2023-08-08,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRefugee healthcare workers (HCWs) can make important contributions in host countries, particularly in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing shortages of frontline HCWs. However, refugee HCWs often face challenges entering the labour markets of such countries even where needs exist. Syria’s decade-long conflict has forced thousands of HCWs from their homes; however, data on this population are limited, impeding the formation of policies that can support them. This study explores the experiences of Syrian refugee HCWs in Egypt.MethodsKey informants (KIs) were selected using purposive and snowball sampling method and semi-structured interviews were conducted in person in Cairo and remotely from the UK during July 2019. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and analysed using a combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis framework after transcription into English.ResultsFifteen KI interviews were analysed. The main emerging themes from the qualitative interviews are those relating to 1. Education, training, and licensing 2. Politics and bureaucracy 3. Societal factors 4. Economic factors. Political changes in Egypt altered opportunities for Syrian HCWs over time; however, refugee HCWs broadly reported acceptance among Egyptian patients and colleagues. Bureaucratic factors which impede the ability of Syrian refugee HCWs to obtain a full license to practice and leave to remain and the absence of clearly defined policies were reported as barriers. Economic factors including the risk of economic exploitation e.g. in the informal sector and financial insecurity were noted to have a negative psychosocial impact.ConclusionsThis is the first qualitative research study which explores the experiences of Syrian refugee HCWs in Egypt. It adds to the sparse literature on the topic of Syrian refugee HCWs but provides evidence for further discussions on how to support refugee HCWs in Egypt and in other host countries in the region. Though interviews were conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic itself lends urgency to the discussion around refugee HCWs on an international level.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

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