Armed conflicts; implications, dynamics and impacts on Public Health care services

Armed conflicts are complex, dynamic and multi-faceted phenomena. They have serious direct and indirect negative impacts on the affected nations. The major complications are seen in the high rate of deaths, injury and population displacement. Armed conflicts affect health: they entail violence, displacement, infrastructure damage, social disruption and heightened risk of disease transmission . This is greatly reflected on public health care services of the countries affected by these conflicts. Historically, the nature and intensity of armed conflicts have changed over time. The world has experienced two world wars which resulted in a major demographic and economic c change seen around the globe. Nowadays, armed-conflicts are increasingly protracted and more middle-income countries with poor health care services are affected.

Furthermore, the negative effects of armed conflicts have multidimensional impacts that linger beyond war times. Tackling and mitigating these wider effects requires a better understanding of the impacts of such conflicts. Different studies have shown the impacts of armed conflict with regards to the economy, immigration and mortality. A few of them highlighted the injuries and war-associated intentional disability. Furthermore, accurate data on the impacts of armed conflicts on the dynamics of microbial diseases, health care services, long run social consequences and populations recovery from conflict, are lacking. Hence, further studies are needed to shed light on such impacts.

This Research Topic is aimed to analyze the effects that armed-conflicts have on the health of individuals and the health care service within the affected countries. Further, we welcome articles that seek to analyze the geographic variation of the conflict density within the affected countries and how that influenced the burdens and transmission dynamics of microbial diseases. The Research Topic also aims to outline the needed strategies to combat the impacts of the armed conflicts and their subsequent consequences.