Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jun 15;23(1):295.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04115-w.

The impact of crisis and COVID-19 on Syrian children growth, health awareness and nutritional practices. a cross-sectional study

Seba Harphoush  1   2 , Bashar Shahood  3 , Ihab Harphoush  4 , Doris Abra Awudi  5 , Shakeel Ahmad  5 , Margaret Zaitoun  5 , Makhala Mary Weeto  5 , Zhong Li  6
Affiliations

The impact of crisis and COVID-19 on Syrian children growth, health awareness and nutritional practices. a cross-sectional study

Seba Harphoush et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Despite the great steadfastness that Syria has achieved in the face of more than a decade of stifling crisis followed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the heavy impacts of these long rough years are certain and crucial on the health and nutrition levels, specially on vulnerable groups like women and children. Moreover, the lack of research and data on health and nutritional status of children within Syria makes it very difficult to draw conclusions and act effectively. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate growth development and give an insight about the public health awareness and nutritional practices among Syrian primary schools children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among private and public primary schools' students aged 6 to 9 years old in Homs governorate in January to April 2021, anthropometric measures were taken and data assessment of socioeconomic background, nutritional practices, and health awareness was achieved by conducting two surveys answered by parents and students.

Results: We defined the total prevalence of obesity (11.8%), underweight (5.6%) and stunting (13.8%), with a significant increased in underweight and stunting prevalence ,(9%, 21.6%) respectively, among public schools' students compared to private schools' students. Differences in nutritional practices and health awareness were recorded between public and private schools' students under socioeconomic impact.

Conclusions: This study contributes to evaluate the burden of crisis and COVID-19 pandemic on Syrian children growth and health practices in Syria. Improving health awareness and nutritional support among Syrian families to help children meet their growth needs is recommended. Moreover, additional research should be conducted to evaluate micro-nutrients deficiencies and provide appropriate medical support effectively.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Crisis; Growth; Nutrition; Syrian children.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. DeJong J, Ghattas H, Bashour H, Mourtada R, Akik C, Reese-Masterson A. Reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health in conflict: a case study on Syria using Countdown indicators. BMJ Glob Health. 2017;2(3):e000302. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000302. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brennan R, Hajjeh R, Al-Mandhari A. Responding to health emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean region in times of conflict. Lancet (London, England). 2020;399:e20–e22. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30069-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Akik C, Semaan A, Shaker-Berbari L, Jamaluddine Z, Saad GE, Lopes K, et al. Responding to health needs of women, children and adolescents within Syria during conflict: intervention coverage, challenges and adaptations. Confl Health. 2020;14:1–19. doi: 10.1186/s13031-020-00263-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Diggle E, Welsch W, Sullivan R, Alkema G, Warsame A, Wafai M, et al. The role of public health information in assistance to populations living in opposition and contested areas of Syria, 2012–2014. Confl Health. 2017;11(1):1–12. doi: 10.1186/s13031-017-0134-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Abouzeid M, Elzalabany M, Nuwayhid I, Jabbour S. Conflict-Related Population Health Research in Syria, 2011-2019: An Assessment of Information Gaps, Research Needs and Challenges, for The Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria. 2020.