Impairments, disabilities and needs assessment among non-fatal war injuries in south Lebanon, Grapes of Wrath, 1996.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of non-fatal war related injuries on physical disability in a group of war wounded civilians and to assess their needs.


METHODS
Cross sectional study. Home interviews were conducted using a structured interview schedule around one month after the injury, to assess impairments, disabilities, and needs.


METHODS
War wounded persons in towns and villages in South Lebanon during the attack "Grapes of Wrath" in 1996.


RESULTS
The majority of the study population were young and in their productive age, mostly injured in the street or while hiding in open shelters. Around half of the injuries resulted in impairments, but, there were no age, gender or geographical differentials by severity of impairment. Almost one third (29%) of the students enrolled in schools at the time of the injury reported failure to continue their education and 42% of the working members lost their jobs with no potential for 34% of them to resume their former jobs. The impact of the injury on impairments, motor disabilities and physical independence was highest for injuries to the lower limbs (age and sex adjusted risk ratio (RR) 1.62, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.25, 2.10; 2.98, 95% CI 2.09, 4.23; and 2.13, 95% CI 1.39, 3.27, respectively). Despite the acute and early relief services provided by all those concerned at the time of the injury, when asked about unmet needs, the majority of the impaired (66%) reported the need for additional services, mostly medical in nature. The degree of disability was a salient factor for the need for rehabilitative services but not for medical services.


CONCLUSIONS
The chronic and diverse needs of people with war injuries are often neglected and underestimated by the governmental institutions and relief agencies. Research funds as well as services should be allocated to tackle the long term and continuous health and social needs of those injured and their families.
Mehio Sibai
A
A
American University of Beirut, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lebanon.
Sameer Shaar
N
N
el Yassir
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*