EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Background: In Lebanon, the nutrition and health of vulnerable populations, including Syrian refugee children, are at risk. This is especially the case following the recent series of financial and economic crises in the country that majorly affected livelihood conditions, increased poverty rates, and decreased the consumption of adequate diets. Particularly, stunting is a major nutrition issue among under-5 Syrian refugee children residing in informal settlements (ISs) in Lebanon, as revealed by the results of the recent 2021 Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART) survey with a prevalence of 25.8%. Childhood stunting creates serious consequences including increased levels of morbidity and mortality as well as poor child growth and development.
Objectives: This assignment aims to present an in-depth analysis to understand the perceived risk factors of poor nutrition, namely stunting, among Syrian refugee children living in informal settlements, and consequently provide recommendations for the design of effective both preventive and curative interventions to address and prevent malnutrition.
Methods: An exploratory approach was conducted in which information was collected from a desk review, interviews with relevant stakeholders, focus group discussions with mothers of Syrian refugee children, and online survey questionnaires with individuals from sector working groups. Eleven key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions with mothers were conducted, 16 members of different sector working groups responded to the online questionnaire. The World Health Organization (WHO) Conceptual Framework on Childhood stunting was used as a guide to determine the factors contributing to high stunting levels.
Results: Findings showed that risk factors perceived to be contributing to stunting levels among Syrian refugee children included those at the individual and household level with poor maternal nutrition, household food insecurity and inadequate complementary feeding practices as the factors perceived to be contributing the most to stunting among Syrian children. On the other hand, at the institutional and community level, market food prices, poverty, income, employment and livelihoods were the factors perceived to be contributing the most to stunting levels. Other factors such as inadequate access to healthcare, inadequate water and sanitation services and infrastructure, low caregiver education and awareness, unsafe storage and preparation of food, and beliefs and norms were also highlighted/ perceived as contributing factors to stunting levels.
Conclusion: Given the multi-level/multi-sectoral nature of factors contributing to stunting, actions needed to prevent and address stunting should ensure an integrated and multi-system approach that engages different sectors including nutrition, health, food security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and social protection.
Source: International Orthodox Christian Charities