[Diagnosis of maternal and infant health in Palestine].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the health situation of the target population (women between 15 and 45 and children from 0 to 3), living in the towns on the West Bank in which the 12 dispensaries of the Palestine NGO Health Services Council were located, in order to plan a programme of support activities for that NGO.


METHODS
Crossover survey. Descriptive analysis of the data.


METHODS
12 towns in the 5 districts of the West Bank (Palestine) between May and July 1994.


METHODS
Women of a fertile age (15 to 45) and children between 0 and 3 living in the towns where the 12 dispensaries of the NGO Health Services Council were located.


RESULTS
Social, demographic and health variables of the population group involved, the availability of primary care services and the pattern of health service use were studied. Worthy of mention were the average fertility of fertile women of 4.55 deliveries (CI 95%, 4.30-4.80), the use of family planning methods by 61% of the women surveyed, the low indices of mother and infant malnutrition, and the frequency of episodes of acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea in the under-3s. The availability of health services in these communities is wide. The non-governmental and private Palestinian services were preferred for antenatal control, whereas the Israeli government services were preferred for deliveries, as these services had more resources.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings were typical of an intermediately developed society, similar to neighbouring countries. The multiplicity of health services available and their lack of coordination could make the application of a unitary health policy in the area difficult.
Modol Bresoli
X
X
Medicus Mundi Catalunya, Health Services Council, Israel.
Shadid
S K
SK
Albertí Casas
C
C
Canela Soler
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008877:Middle East; D010298:Parity; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011320:Primary Health Care
Diagnóstico de salud maternoinfantil en Palestina.