Digital Solutions for TB Prevention in Refugee Camps

Research Poster Social & Behavioral Sciences 2025 Graduate Exhibition

Presentation by Magdalena Waters

Exhibition Number 68

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health crisis, especially among Syrian refugees in Jordan that are placing a significant burden on the healthcare infrastructure. Killing over 1.25 million people around the world in 2023, TB is returning to being the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, after a few years of being displaced from COVID-19. Overcrowded and inadequate living conditions in refugee camps like Za'atari, and challenges like poor sanitation, low childhood immunization rates, and weakened immune systems, exacerbate TB transmission. The Jordanian healthcare system faces difficulties tracking and controlling TB due to refugee mobility and underreporting. This potential intervention explores the use of digital health platforms to relieve Jordan's challenges by providing real-time monitoring, data analytics, and communication tools to enhance TB control and improve childhood vaccination status by appointment reminders and connecting families with accessible clinicians. Real-time data can facilitate contact tracing, vaccination campaigns, and resource allocation, improving health outcomes for both refugees and host populations. Digital platforms can support refugee health by enhancing integration of health records with Jordanian records and allow for easy referral of severe cases to local hospitals. By integrating a low-cost, scalable digital platform, Jordan can strengthen their previous TB prevention efforts, streamline healthcare services for refugees, and contribute to the World Health Organization's goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030. Expected success in this intervention can be utilized to prevent a variety of infectious diseases across the world, especially among displaced and related vulnerable populations during humanitarian crises.

Importance

Despite being less than 7% of the total Jordanian population, refugees account for approximately a quarter of all TB cases in the country. Refugees are especially vulnerable to TB infection due to living overcrowded and under-resourced environments, with many barriers in access to local healthcare. Additionally, only 12.5% of Syrian children have full vaccination status following the outbreak of conflict. Digital platforms can improve access to health services, through appointment reminders, tracing, educational materials, and health records, which would increase the rate of childhood vaccination and prevent TB spread in Syrian refugee camps. This approach not only strengthens efforts to ease the burden of local healthcare systems, but supports global efforts in reducing infectious disease spread.

DEI Statement

My proposed intervention addresses critical health disparities faced by Syrian refugees in Jordan, focusing on the increased vulnerability to TB due to overcrowding and limited healthcare access. Usage of digital health platforms will improve health outcomes for refugee populations by ensuring more equitable access to care, timely treatment, and prevention of infection. This project addresses the health needs of displaced families and children, whom are often overlooked in national health schemes. This work contributes to understanding how digital and media tools can improve vaccination status, health literacy, and access to advanced healthcare to support the dynamic needs of crisis-affected communities. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals to promote good health and reduce inequalities for everyone across the world.