New report maps the evidence on health interventions in humanitarian settings

The implementation of evidence-informed interventions plays a critical role in strengthening the impact of humanitarian response. Next week, we will be hosting an online event to share our latest publication in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health: An Evidence Review of Research on Health Interventions in Humanitarian Crises: 2021 Update (HHER2). 

HHER2 follows on from the first Humanitarian Health Evidence Review published in 2015, which provided a comprehensive assessment on the effectiveness of humanitarian health interventions in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Recognising that a significant body of humanitarian health research has been published since the initial review, we commissioned researchers from Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health to document the new evidence that contributes to humanitarian decision-making.

The updated review provides a mapping of the quantity and quality of evidence examining the effectiveness of health interventions in humanitarian settings in LMICs. It captures peer-reviewed evidence published since 2013 and offers an analysis of critical strengths and weaknesses in the evidence base across priority humanitarian health areas: communicable disease control; water, sanitation and hygiene; nutrition; sexual and reproductive health, and gender-based violence; mental health and psychosocial support; non-communicable diseases; injury and physical rehabilitation; health service delivery; and health systems. 

Shannon Doocy, Lead Author of HHER2 and Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said:

“Well designed and clearly presented research can help us understand which humanitarian health interventions work in different settings, why they work, and how to best deliver these interventions for greatest impact.

This updated review offers comprehensive evidence for the humanitarian health sector. It provides a detailed synthesis of published research across priority humanitarian health topic should help to inform targeted research efforts in the years ahead.”

About the event

The discussion will be chaired by James Smith, R2HC Senior Humanitarian Health Research Adviser, Elrha. We will be joined by panellists from academia and the humanitarian sector, including Jess Camburn, CEO, Elrha; Shannon Doocy, Lead Author of HHER2 and Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sakib Burza, Medical Director, Health in Harmony (previously, Medical Advisor for Asia, Médecins Sans Frontières).  

• Date: Wednesday 22 June 2022 
• Time: 14:00 – 15:00 BST 
• Location: Online via Zoom 

HHER2 was led by Shannon Doocy, Emily Lyles and Hannah Tappis who are faculty in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and affiliates of the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health.