WHAT DO THEY THINK?When striving to shape social development, change behaviors and improve the lives of the approximately 6 million people living in Lebanon, a country hosting more refugees per capita than any other country in the world – a starting point is understanding perceptions and culture. In other words, mapping the terrain before navigating. You are reading the highlights of a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey, which forms the basis of UNICEF’s and the Government of Lebanon’s action plan until 2020; to address demand creation, individual and social behavior change which is an area that is all too often neglected. We’ve spoken to policy makers and practitioners. We’ve visited 7,000 households, Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian - to be able to mend what’s broken in children’s lives in terms of rights, protection, welfare, education and inclusion. This is the first cross program KAP study in Lebanon, and it clearly shows what deserves a stronger focus. The findings are a platform for change – or call it a map if you like – that gives clear guidance to our interventions in coming years.
Tanya Chapuisat | UNICEF representative in LebanonFebruary, 2018
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF THE LEBANESE; SYRIAN AND PALESTINE REFUGEES IN LEBANON, 2017
DISABILITIES
18%of the Lebanese, Syrian & Palestine refugees that were surveyed/asked believe that children with intellectual disabilities should go to regular pre-schools & schools 45% of Syrians registered with UNHCR, compared to 55% of
the Lebanese, believe that a physically disabled child should go to regular pre-school and school
Percentage of respondents who believe that children with physical disabilities should be integrated in society
70%56%
48%46%
Syrians registered with UNHCR
Syrians in informal settlements
Palestine refugees in camps
Lebanese “
55% 45%
CHILD RIGHTS
ONE OUT OF TEN RESPONDENTS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF CHILD RIGHTS
right to education
right to participate in family and social life
right to health
right to be safe in an emergency
right to food, shelter, clothing
right to be protected from
exploitation
78%
15%
64%
21%
61%
22%
Three most cited rights, when respondents were asked what child rights entailed
Three least cited rights, when respondents were asked what child rights entailed
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE TREATED WELL IN EUROPE BUT ARE MARGINALISED IN ALL ARAB COUNTRIES.“PALESTINE REFUGEE, MOUNT LEBANON, MAY 2017
Syrians in informal settlements
62%
of the Lebanese
Percentage of respondents who believe that marriage under 18 years of age has negative consequences
% of respondents who know that it is wrong to hit a child
86
88
18
believe that children need to be listened to in matters affecting them
38% of Syrian children experience violent discipline in Mount Lebanon compared to 83% in the Bekaa Similarly, 26% of Lebanese children in Nabatieh report violent discipline compared to 85% in the North
Syrians in informal settlements
and
%
TOTAL73%
%of Syrian caregivers in informal settlements
CHILD PROTECTION
Lebanese76%
Lebanese69%
% of the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestine refugees that were asked who find verbal/physical violence to be a useful discipline method for children
Syrians registered with UNHCR
Mother not accessing opportunities such as work or school
Threat to mother’s psychological wellbeing
Threat to mother’s life during pregnancy
64%
Syrians registered with UNHCR
73%
60%Palestine refugees in camps 62%
Palestine refugees in camps
66%
Three most cited negative consequences of child marriage, by all respondents
Only 17% of all respondents - Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian - believe that a woman would report gender-based violence to formal authorities
While 87% of the Lebanese know that the minimum working age in Lebanon is 18, only 61% of Syrians in informal
settlements do
45%38%38% 17%
verbal violence27%
physical violence15%
EDUCATIONPercentage of respondents who would report child violence to formal authorities
Percentage of caregivers who think girls should be in school until they graduate
91% of Palestine refugees in camps know how to enroll children in public school while only 37% of Syrians in informal settlements do
36%
96% 82% 78%88%
22% Syrians registered with UNHCR
Syrians registered
with UNHCR
Lebanese
LebaneseSyrians
in informal settlements
Palestine refugees in
camps
91%37%
14%
49%
49% of the Lebanese and 14% of Palestine refugees in camps would never enroll a child in public or UNRWA schools
59% of children between 3 and 18 who are currently out of school have never attended school in their life.
For those who did go to school in the past, the following reasons are provided to explain drop-out:
THE MOST POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON GIRLS’ EDUCATION AMONG THE LEBANESE IS FOUND IN MOUNT LEBANON AND THE NORTH, AT 98%, WHILE THE LOWEST IS IN THE SOUTH AT 90%
THERE ARE NO ISSUES ENROLLING CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. THE ISSUES ARE INSIDE THE SCHOOLPALESTINIAN MOTHER, SOUTH OF LEBANON, JUNE 2017
““
14% Syrians in informal settlements
25% Palestine refugees in camps
the child is unwilling to attend school
the child received enough education
the child needsto work
education is not necessary
29%
16%
the child doesnot understand the teachers
17% 27%
15%
WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
HEALTH
Most important times for handwashing, all respondents
Percentage of respondents who know that six rounds are needed to complete recommended vaccines by a child’s first birthday
Percentage of respondents who believe it is important to breastfeed until 24 months
Most important ways to prevent disease transmission
before eating
Lebanese Syrians Palestine refugeesin camps
handwashing before eating
coming back home
before preparing food
proper cooking and cleaning practices
73% 69% 55% 42%
69%
67% 66%
49%handwashing after using the bathroom
62%
of households in Lebanon, paid for the delivery of their last child, be it Syrian, Lebanese or Palestinian
50%Primary reason why Lebanese children are not vaccinated
Lack of knowledge
7%
Vaccine unavailable at clinic
14%
Someone advised against it
11%
Too expensive to reach clinic
6%
Insufficient quality
42%
Unfriendly staff 6%
No vaccinator at clinic
9%
Distrust in clinic’s vaccine
20%
COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENTPercentage of respondents who never access the internet
60% of all respondents preferred to be informed about UNICEF’s services by mobile phone.
Lebanese 16%
Syrians registered with UNHCR 43%
Palestine refugees in camps 16%
Syrians in informal settlements 85%
Lebanese44%
Syrians in informal settlements 68%
No transport 4%
No money to vaccinate
5%
Vaccination too expensive
4%
The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey was finalized in December 2017. Interviews were carried out with 34,711 members of 7,000 households. In terms of qualitative data; 48 focus group discussions were carried out as well as 42 key informant interviews. The study was conducted by the University of Malmö, Sweden, for UNICEF Lebanon, supported by the Government of Lebanon.
The KAP study was funded by the Governments of Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States of America.
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org
Disclaimer: This study and report were conducted and managed by Malmö University, Sweden.The opinions in this report reflect the findings of the data collection and cannot be attributed to
UNICEF or to any other organization.
Photo Credits: Cover photo: © UNICEF/Simon Lister | © UNICEF/Hedinn Halldorsson | © UNICEF/Bilal Jawish | © UNICEF/Reto Albertalli
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