Displacement due to armed conflict and violence in childhood and adulthood and its effects on older adult health: The case of the middle-income country of Colombia

Abstract

Large population displacement in developing economies due to internal armed conflict and violence is of international concern. There has been relatively little research on the long-term consequences of displacement on older adult health among populations characterized by rapid demographic, epidemiological, and nutritional transitions during the 20 th century. We examine displacement in the middle-income country of Colombia, which experienced these rapid transitions and a large population displacement over the last 50-60 years due to internal armed conflict and violence. Using a nationally representative survey of adults 60 years and older, SABE-Colombia (2014-2015, n = 23,694), we estimate the degree to which displacement relative to those never displaced is associated with older adult health (self-reported health, major illness/stress, at least one chronic condition, heart disease), controlling for age, gender, SES (socioeconomic status), residence, early life conditions (infectious diseases, poor nutrition, health, SES, family violence), and adult behavior (smoking, exercise, nutrition). We found (1) strong associations between poor early life conditions and older adult health with little attenuation of effects after controlling for displacement, adult SES, and lifestyle; (2) strong associations between displacement and self-reported health; along with poor early life conditions, displacement increases the chances of poor health at older ages; (3) significant positive interaction effects between childhood infections and displacement during young adulthood for older adult stress/major illness, suggesting the importance of the timing of displacement; (4) significant interaction effects between childhood infections and being displaced during childhood, indicating lower levels of older adult stress/major illness and suggesting the possibility of resilience due to childhood adversity. We conclude that displacement compounds the effects of poor early life conditions and that timing of displacement can matter. The results raise the possibility of similar patterns in the health of aging populations in low-income countries that also experience displacement and rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions.

Lifestyle habits and academy performance amongst forcibly displaced students: A cross‐sectional survey in a school of dentistry

“…Moreover, the frequency of physical inactivity, insufficient sleep, alcohol and cigarette use, and abuse of substances is scarcely explored in relation to displaced university students. Most studies explored these behaviours separately in displaced children 11,18,21 and adolescents. 7,19,21 Notably, no investigations described the effects of multiple lifestyle habits on academic performance in forcibly displaced university students.…”

“…26 Displacement is happening inside the framework of immediate demographic and epidemiological changes, occasioning long-term effects for well-being. 21 A recognised body of literature shows that the lives of most displaced people were seriously disturbed by the trauma of conflict and cultural displacing, 1,2,7,14,21,27 causing great stress that can be so significant to health, minimising the consequences of deprived life conditions. 1 Forcibly displaced people in Colombia commonly do not return home because their areas of origin are under control by the armed persons who coerced their displacement.…”

“…Most studies explored these behaviours separately in displaced children 11,18,21 and adolescents. 7,19,21 Notably, no investigations described the effects of multiple lifestyle habits on academic performance in forcibly displaced university students. Therefore, addressing various comportments concurrently can generate accumulative profits that impact both health and academic results in displaced students.…”

A Spatial Model of Internal Displacement and Forced Migration

“…Depetris-Chauvin and Santos (2018) analyze the effect of internal displacement on rental prices in host cities. McEniry, Samper-Ternent, and Cano-Gutierrez (2019) investigate the effect of exposure to displacement on older adults health. Cely and Mahé (2020) assess the effect of internal displacement on educational achievements.…”

Associations of History of Displacement, Food Insecurity, and Stress With Maternal-Fetal Health in a Conflict Zone: A Case Study

“…Presently, the United Nations recommends a focus on maternal and neonatal health in conflict zones if targets of the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved ( 2 ). Colombia has been experiencing armed conflict for over three decades ( 3 ) with widespread internal displacement ( 4 ) of 6 million people because of violence ( 5 ). Internal displacement due to conflict poses physical and mental health risks and leads to disruption of protective factors like community and family networks ( 1 ).…”