Research Programs

METHODOLOGY

Background of Study

Benue State in North-Central Nigeria has experienced recurrent episodes of communal violence and armed attacks, resulting in repeated population displacement and the establishment of temporary settlements for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area was affected by a major attack in June 2025, following which survivors sought refuge at a temporary IDP shelter in Makurdi. UNICEF subsequently reported that the International Market IDP Camp in Makurdi was accommodating hundreds of families displaced by violence, including persons from Yelewata. Conditions within the camp included overcrowding, limited water supply, and strained access to basic services, highlighting the health vulnerabilities of displaced populations (Onuoha-Ogwe, 2025, 2026). 

Understanding the pattern of health conditions among displaced populations is important for planning appropriate health interventions and allocating limited resources. Community-based health outreach programmes provide opportunities to identify common health conditions, detect previously undiagnosed conditions, provide health education, and facilitate referral for appropriate care. However, health information generated through humanitarian and community-based outreach activities is not always systematically analysed to inform epidemiological surveillance and programme planning. This study therefore aimed to describe the pattern and prevalence of common health conditions among internally displaced persons attending a community health outreach in Benue State, Nigeria.

Study Design

This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design to describe the pattern and prevalence of common health conditions among internally displaced persons (IDPs) attending a community health outreach. Data on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, duration of displacement, usual sources of healthcare, presenting complaints, clinical measurements, and screening findings were collected during the study period. The cross-sectional design enabled the assessment of health conditions and relevant participant characteristics at a defined point in time (Setia, 2016).

Study Site

The study was conducted at a community health outreach organised by the Sickle Support & Health Access Initiative (SSHAI) at the Yelewata Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The camp serves displaced families affected by conflict in Benue State, including persons displaced from Yelewata and surrounding affected communities. UNICEF reports that thousands of people displaced by violence have been accommodated at the International Market IDP Camp in Makurdi, where humanitarian responses have included health, water, sanitation, hygiene, and other support services (Onuoha-Ogwe, 2026). The outreach provided medical consultations, health screening, health education, and referral services to camp residents. Data collection was conducted on 20 June 2026.

Study Population

The study population comprised of adult internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in the study setting who attended the community health outreach during the study period. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 years and above, or children with consenting guardians 

Inclusion Criteria: 

Participants were eligible for inclusion if: 

(1) They were Aged > or =18 years and provided informed consent to participate, or or caregiver consenting on behalf of a child. 

 (2) Attended the SSHAI community health outreach during the study period

(3) Met the study eligibility criteria

(4) They were internally displaced persons residing in the Yelewata IDP Camp

Exclusion Criteria:

-Individuals who were too ill to complete the interview and for whom reliable information could not be obtained. 

-Participants with incomplete study records.

-Individuals who declined participation or withdrew consent. 

Sample Size Determination

The accessible study population comprised 203 eligible internally displaced persons (IDPs) who met the study eligibility criteria. As the accessible population was relatively small and all eligible participants could be included, a census (total enumeration) approach was adopted. Census sampling involves including the entire defined population in the study rather than selecting a subset of participants (Martínez-Mesa et al., 2016). Consequently, all 203 eligible IDPs who provided informed consent or with a consenting caregiver were included in the study, giving a final study size of 203 participants.

Sampling Method

Census (total enumeration) sampling was used. All eligible IDPs within the defined accessible study population were included in the study rather than selecting a sample from the population. This approach was considered appropriate because the accessible population was small and fully identifiable; allowing the study to include the entire eligible population (Martínez-Mesa et al., 2016).

Data Collection Technique

Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire developed for the study. Information obtained included socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, healthcare seeking behaviour and other selected health indicators.

Clinical screening, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, blood glucose, MUAC, and malara rapid diagnostic testing (where indicated)  was performed using standardized procedures. Findings from these assessments were used to support the clinician’s provisional diagnosis.

To ensure data quality, research assistants received training on objectives, ethical conduct, interviewing techniques, and proper administration before data collection, standardized data collection tools were used, and completed questionnaires were reviewed for completeness and consistency.

Study Variables

Dependent Variables

• Presenting complaints.

• Provisional Clinical diagnosis. 

• Pattern and prevalence of common health conditions (derived from the provisional clinical diagnosis).

Participant Characteristics

• Age.

• Sex.

• Educational level.

• Occupation.

• Duration of displacement.

• Usual first source of healthcare

Data Management and Statistical Analysis

Completed questionnaires were reviewed for completeness before data entry. Data was entered, cleaned, and analysed using SPSS Statistics version 20.0. Categorical variables were summarised using frequencies and percentages. 

The prevalence of individual health conditions was calculated as the proportion of participants with the corresponding provisional clinical diagnosis among the study population. Presenting complaints and selected health-related characteristics were summarised descriptively. Participants were also categorised according to communicable disease, non-communicable disease and overall disease burden based on the recorded provisional clinical diagnoses. Where applicable, disease burden was categorised according to the number and type of conditions identified.

Associations between selected sociodemographic and displacement characteristics and major health outcomes were assessed using the Pearson chi-square test. Fisher’s exact test was used where expected cell frequencies were small. Associations were examined primarily between socio-demographic characteristics & selected outcomes. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate Health Research Ethics Committee, SEMA, Benue State Emergency Management Agency prior to commencement of the study (Approval Number: BSEMA/OFF/GEN/82/VOL11/796). Administrative permission was also obtained from the relevant camp authorities before data collection.

Participation was entirely voluntary. Written or verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants before enrolment. Participants were assured of confidentiality, anonymity, and their right to withdraw from the study at any stage without any effect on the healthcare services they received. All collected data were securely stored and used solely for research purposes.

Limitations of the Study

The findings of this study should be interpreted in light of certain limitations.

-Some health conditions were identified based on clinical assessment and point-of-care screening rather than confirmatory laboratory or imaging investigations, which may have resulted in some degree of diagnostic misclassification. 

-The cross-sectional design provides information at a single point in time and does not permit assessment of temporal relationships between exposures and health outcomes

-The study included only internally displaced persons who attended the one-day clinical outreach and consented to participate. Consequently, the findings may not be generalizable to all IDPs residing in the camp or other displaced populations. 

-Some information was self-reported and may therefore have been affected by recall bias or social desirability bias. 

Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable baseline information on the pattern and prevalence of common health conditions among internally displaced persons and offers evidence that may guide future humanitarian interventions, healthcare planning, and research in similar settings.

References

1. Martínez-Mesa, J., González-Chica, D. A., Duquia, R. P., Bonamigo, R. R., & Bastos, J. L. (2016). Sampling: How to select participants in my research study?  Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 91(3), 326– 330. https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254 

2. Onuoha-Ogwe, I. (2026, April 21). She fled with nothing, now she’s fighting to keep her children alive. UNICEF Nigeria.  

3. Setia, M. S. (2016). Methodology series module 3: Cross-sectional studies. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 61(3), 261–264. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.182410

OBJECTIVES

1. To describe the common presenting complaints, health conditions and healthcare seeking behaviour among internally displaced persons residing in the selected IDP camp.

2. To determine the prevalence of common health conditions among internally displaced persons residing in the selected IDP camp.

3. To describe the common health conditions associated with selected socio-demographic characteristics and duration of displacement.   

4. To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving healthcare services and disease surveillance in IDP camps.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the common presenting complaints, health conditions, and healthcare-seeking behaviours among internally displaced persons residing in the selected IDP camp?

2. What is the prevalence of common health conditions among internally displaced persons residing in the selected IDP camp? 

3. What common health conditions are associated with selected socio-demographic characteristics and duration of displacement among internally displaced persons residing in the selected IDP camp?

4. What recommendations can be made to improve healthcare service delivery and disease surveillance in IDP camps based on the study findings?