“I have broken bones, where should I go now?”: Qualitative research findings on refugees’ journey with injury healthcare

Background The global refugee crisis presents a major public health challenge, with Syrian refugees in Lebanon facing a heightened injury burden. This population experiences 2.5 times more occupational injuries, with 1 in 5 suffering burns and 1 in 30 sustaining conflict-related injuries, among other trauma types. This study explores refugee injuries to inform targeted interventions and policies. Methods This study builds on the Surgeons Overseas Assessment of Surgical Need framework to explore injured refugees’ perspectives and barriers to healthcare access. An ethnographic-inductive approach was employed, combining direct participation and thematic analysis of interviews. The interviews were conducted in colloquial Arabic with a sample of adult Syrian refugees with unmet surgical or healthcare needs and took place in participants’ dwellings, following an interview guide, and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 17 participants were included. Findings indicate participants live with family members in suboptimal dwellings, have unsustainable work conditions, strained community relationships, and sustained injuries from violence, occupations, and war. The healthcare they have received seemed inadequate, delayed, and limited to specific services, leading to incomplete recovery and adverse impacts on their quality of life. Conclusions Syrian refugees in Lebanon face significant challenges in accessing equitable healthcare for injuries, resulting in prolonged suffering, incomplete recovery, and financial difficulties. Lebanon’s privatized healthcare system, combined with insufficient humanitarian support, exacerbates these barriers. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including subsidized healthcare programs, mobile medical units in refugee-dense areas, targeted injury prevention initiatives, and expanding mental health services for injured refugees.