Effects of armed conflict on access to emergency health care in Palestinian West Bank: systematic collection of data in emergency departments.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of restrictions in access to hospital services imposed on the civilian population during the armed conflict in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.


METHODS
Consecutive registration of demographic and medical data, with information about transportation time, delay in access to hospital, and course of hospital contact.


METHODS
Three hospital emergency departments in Bethlehem and Nablus, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, during one week in each hospital.


METHODS
All patients seeking health care in the three hospitals during the study period.


RESULTS
A total of 394 of the 2228 emergency department contacts reported being delayed at checkpoints or by detours on their way to the emergency department. Hospital admission was significantly more common for these patients: 32% (n = 125) compared with 13% (n = 205) among those who were not delayed.


CONCLUSIONS
18% of the emergency department contacts were delayed because of the occupation. The higher hospital admission rate in this group suggests that restrictions in access to hospital services influence the severity of the medical conditions presented.
National Institute of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1399 DK, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Maren Johanne Heilskov
MJ
Rytter
Anne-Lene
AL
Kjaeldgaard
Henrik
H
Brønnum-Hansen
Karin
K
Helweg-Larsen
D002960:Civil Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare