Post-conflict primary health care

Info

Start date: 1 January, 2013 End date: 30 September, 2018 Project type: Larger strategic projects (prior to 2013) Project code: 12-057SDU Countries: Uganda Thematic areas: Health, Lead institution: University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Denmark Partner institutions: Kolding Hospital, Denmark Odense University Hospital (OUH), Denmark Gulu University (GU), Uganda University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark Project website: go to website (the site might be inactive) Project coordinator: Morten Sodemann Total grant: 9,702,563 DKK

Project summary

Primary health care (PHC) often assumes a stable population.  However, in conflict and post-conflict conditions, mobility poses an even more pronounced issue for PHC. In northern Uganda the population was exposed to forced urbanization into IDP camps. When peace recently returned to the region, resettlement resulted in movement out of camps to rural areas with poor services. The population faces problems of establishing a home, security, planning for the future and changing life conditions. There are difficulties in reaching some segments of the population and the services for IDPs during the conflict provided by WFP and relief organizations have been stopped including research institutions including the Joint Clinical Research Centre.
Under Gulu University a demographic health surveillance system (DSS) has been developed since 2008 in Awach county, Gulu, as part of the Gulu-ENRECA research capacity building project. Preliminary findings suggest significant issues regarding nutrition, security, gender, generation and land disputes, high levels of human insecurity and post-traumatic stress. The combination of different exposures to war trauma, camp life, WFP food and now reversed migration from urban areas to rural areas offers a unique epidemiologic situation for evaluating the short and long term effects of more or less controlled displacement. The results will provide evidence for more effective service provision, and provide new knowledge on mobility, security and health.

Outputs

Midterm Report 2015

PhD fellows who participated in post graduate courses now have the capacity to conduct credible research and are also able to conduct similar trainings and supervise other upcoming researchers.

Training of Health workers has improved the level of clinical supervision and patient care. There is early recognition, assessment, diagnosis and clinical management of common mental health problems and suicidal behaviors. This has reduced occurrence of death in the communities.

Community based researches have triggered more involvement of the local and district leadership in project activities. They can now better assess community perceptions relevant to research and project activities.

Dissemination and awareness programmes on health concerns have persuaded the
community to visit Health centers and to seek appropriate medical health services.

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