The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) conducted the Health Access and Utilization Survey (HAUS) to assess and monitor refugee access to various healthcare services and to identify barriers encountered. This cross-sectional survey was specifically conducted to monitor access to and utilization of key health services among refugees residing in Egypt.
Methodology:
The survey employed 14 surveyors and 1 supervisor who underwent a day of training, including role play exercises to familiarize themselves with using the survey tool. The survey was conducted between December 3rd and December 13th.
Survey households were selected using stratified systematic random sampling from a register of refugee households that had listed telephone numbers. Interviews were conducted over the phone with the head of household or an adult above 18 who could respond on their behalf, regarding key indicators of interest.
The nationalities selected for this survey included refugees from Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, and others.
Data collected were entered using computers and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The extracted data were segregated into four sections: All Nationalities, Syrian, Sudanese, and Other Nationalities, covering the following categories included in the survey:
Sample Characteristics.
Child Health:
Child Immunizations (Measles or MMR injection).
Child Immunizations (Polio vaccine).
Nutrition Module – Children under 5 years old + IYCF – Children under 23 months old.
Antenatal Care & Reproductive Health.
Chronic Diseases & Impairment:
Chronic Diseases.
Impairment.
Access and Knowledge of Health Services:
Access to Health Services.
Access to Health Services and Health Seeking Behavior.
Hospitalizations during the last year.
Knowledge of Health Services.
This survey aims to provide valuable insights into the healthcare access and utilization patterns among refugee populations in Egypt, facilitating informed decision-making and targeted interventions to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable demographic.
