BACKGROUND There is increasing international concern over the rising number of children involved in labour, particularly in developing countries. Despite the multitude of related risk factors, and some evidence on their social needs, there has been limited research on these children's mental health. METHODS The aim of this study was to establish the association between labour-related variable...

Energy consumption is increasing rapidly in Gaza Strip (GS). This reflects upon population growth, increasing living standard as well as the level of development in all aspects of life. Increases in household consumption were responsible for a relatively high growth of energy consumption since households consume more energy than all other sectors in the Palestinian Territories. Palestinians imp...

A random sample of 9548 Palestinian Arabs living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip was identified, and 9054 (95.7%) were examined. Particular attention was directed to reduced visual acuity (VA) and its cause and to trachoma. Low visual acuity was defined as less than 6/18 in both eyes and binocular blindness as a VA less than 3/60 in both eyes. The overall incidence of low VA was 6.8% and of bin...

BACKGROUND The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has periodically estimated infant mortality rates among Palestine refugees in Gaza. These surveys have recorded a decline from 127 per 1000 live births in 1960 to 20.2 in 2008. METHODS We used the same preceding-birth technique as in previous surveys. All multiparous mothers who came to the 2...

AIM To investigate the rate and nature of anxiety symptoms and disorders in children, and their relation to social adversities in a cultural sample not previously researched. METHODS 237 children aged 9 to 13 years living in the Gaza Strip were selected randomly from 112 schools. Children completed the revised manifest anxiety scale (a questionnaire with yes/no answers for 28 anxiety items an...

This research study aimed to get acquainted with the prevalence of PTSD, and other psychological suffering among Palestinian children living under severe conditions during the last two and half years of the Al-Aqsa Intifada. The sample consists of 944 children whom age ranged between 10-19 years. The group excluded those with previous mental health problems. In this research, trauma scale, PTSD...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to detect Dientamoeba fragilis by iron haematoxylin stain, as well as its prevalence, and association between D. fragilis infection and diarrhoea among patients attending Al-Nuseirate Refugee Camp Clinic, Gaza Strip. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 children and adults with age ranges from (1 to 75) years old, attending Al-Nussirat C...

Background and Objectives: Malnutrition is highly prevalent worldwide among hemodialysis patients and is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality.This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition and to determine the related demographic socioeconomic factors associated with malnutrition indicators among hemodialysis patients at Al-Shifa Medic...

AIMS To assess university students' extent of smoking, knowledge of smoking health risks, and awareness of existing national anti-smoking laws. METHODS Self-administered questionnaire was employed across 7 universities (1,104 students, equal proportions of males and females) located in Gaza Strip, Palestine. RESULTS About 55% of participants reported ever smoking, 31% were current cigarette...

UNRWA's noncommunicable disease screening activities were evaluated among 7762 refugees screened for hypertension and type 2 diabetes in Jordan, Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Gaza Strip and West Bank in June 2007. People were referred for screening most commonly because of age (both sexes), followed by smoking (males) and family history (females). Atotal of 9% ofscreened people were diagnosed ...