361 Characteristics of injuries among Syrian refugees in Lebanon

<h3>Background</h3> Injuries represent a significant health burden for refugees displaced by war and conflict. The burden is further exacerbated by barriers to accessing injury care in their place of refuge. <h3>Objective</h3> This study aims to examine the prevalence of physical injuries among Syrian refugees residing in informal settlements throughout Lebanon. It further aims to assess the causes, outcomes, and impacts of such injuries. <h3>Methods</h3> A cross-sectional cluster-sampling survey of Syrian refugees living in informal settlements in three main regions in Lebanon (North, Central-Beirut, and South) was conducted using the Surgeons Overseas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) tool. Data collected included demographics, physical injuries sustained in the prior 12 months, and injury characteristics and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as chi-square tests were conducted, highlighting relationships between variables of interest. <h3>Results</h3> A total number of 1,468 households were surveyed with even distribution across Beirut (27%), the South (33%), and Tripoli (31%). Approximately 57% of households were apartments and 40% were tents. Most respondents lived in households with either 6–10 members (39%) or 4–5 members (38%). Slightly over 3% of households reported death in the previous 12 months, 15% of which was due to injury. Almost 19% of households had a member who sustained some type of injury in the previous 12 months. The injured member was most often male (78%), injured within the camp (62%), on the lower (35%) or upper (32%) limbs, and via a fall (46%) or via motor vehicle crash (34%). Almost a third of injuries occurred during work and 30% of those injured were unable to work as before. Households that were apartments, were located in the south, and contained 6–10 members were statistically more likely to sustain an injury. Age and region had a statistically significant impact on the mechanism of injury. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Displaced Syrians in Lebanon suffer from high prevalence of physical injuries that substantially impact their daily lives. Injury is more common in males and mechanisms mirror routine causes such as falls and road traffic-related injuries. Injury prevention programs that target hazard identification and mitigation in informal settlements are needed.