Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers

Abstract In addition to having some of the worst health outcomes in the region, Haiti faces a political and economic crisis. The most recent humanitarian crisis includes an increase in homicides and kidnappings in the capital Port-au-Prince. This study is a cross-sectional, mixed methods online survey of health workers and medical students in Port-au-Prince from May 20 – September 15, 2023. It provides evidence of the kidnapping risk healthcare workers face and shares the perspective of a medical community operating in a challenging context to provide a continuity of care under the threat of violence. The survey of Haitian health workers and students show a significant risk of kidnapping with 44% of respondents reporting that they had a colleague kidnapped in the previous 2 years. 5 of the 249 respondents had been kidnapped and all were young, female health workers. 74% of health workers and students surveyed reported they plan to continue their profession abroad. Although tele-training was viewed as a positive opportunity to continue training cadres of medical professionals, health workers shared numerous limitations present for the expansion of tele medicine in the Haitian context. In addition to describing the experience of the Haitian healthcare professional during this crisis and documenting barriers to tele training and tele medicine, this survey documents design considerations for mobile phone surveys with healthcare providers working in areas affected by conflict.