Community-based surveillance of unaccompanied and separated children in drought-affected northern Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children separated from their caregivers in humanitarian emergencies are vulnerable to multiple risks. However, no field-tested methods exist to capture ongoing changes in the frequency and nature of separation in these contexts over the course of a protracted crisis.

Methods

Recognizing this gap, a mobile phone-based surveillance system was established in a drought-affected district in northern Ethiopia to assess the feasibility of using community focal points to monitor cases of unaccompanied and separated children. A total of 29 focal points were recruited through village elections from 10 villages in the district. Feasibility was assessed directly by measuring the number and quality of messages sent by the focal points each week. The team also evaluated the im

SUBMITTER: MacFarlane M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6558760 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature