Description
This article describes a health needs assessment
conducted in Lebanon and the development of a rapid and economical
method of eliciting and comparing the health needs, as perceived
by Palestinian refugees, with the perception of their service
providers. Questionnaires and focus groups were used for refugees
from three refugee camps and semi-structured interviews were
carried out with heads of six non-governmental organisations
providing services.
The results were informative but not necessarily representative
of the entire refugee population in Lebanon. The services
provided for the refugees are inadequate when compared with
the needs as perceived by the refugees. There is a lack of
communication between the service providers and the refugees.
The refugees had mostly similar perceived needs with some
variations. There is a need for international recognition
of the unique situation of long term refugees.
