We studied the microbial diversity of benthic cyanobacterial mats inhabiting a heavily polluted site in a coastal stream (Wadi Gaza) and monitored the microbial community response induced by exposure to and degradation of four model petroleum compounds in the laboratory. Phormidium- and Oscillatoria-like cyanobacterial morphotypes were dominant in the field. Bacteria belonging to different grou...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of psychological morbidity among Palestinian children living in the southern Bethlehem District of the West Bank during July 2000. METHODS We undertook a descriptive study using the Rutter A2 (parent) Scale to determine psychological morbidity. This questionnaire comprises 31 questions that were answered by a parent of the 206 subject children (ages 6 to ...

Gaza beach is the only recreational area available for the local inhabitants. It is heavily polluted with treated, partially treated, and untreated sewage from point and nonpoint sources. The majority of the population is below the age of 15 years. This age group is vulnerable to gastrointestinal diseases and usually restricts their activities to beach sand at the swash zone. Five sampling poin...

Background Metabolic syndrome is a major health problem worldwide. Globally, the World Health Organization identified physical inactivity as the fourth leading risk factor for mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between physical activities and metabolic syndrome and diabetes complications among type 2 diabetes patients in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Methods This cross-s...

Breast cancer (BC) is the main common cause of cancer mortality among women in the world. This study aims at investigating BC epidemiology and identifying the different risk factors associated and the most affecting ones among women in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. This study was a hospital-based case-control (1:2), as the study was carried out over the period of October 2014 to February 2015. A t...

The current study explores the perceived quality of life of Syrian refugees who have entered the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Two hundred and seventy participants residing in refugee camps in the Erbil region in Kurdistan completed the WHOQOL-BREF, which measures Quality of Life (QOL) within four domains; physical, psychological, social relationships and environment. Syrian refugees in Kurdistan s...

This paper aims to explore the nature of Work–Life Balance (WLB) policies offered within a developing country (Gaza; Palestine) by two telecommunication companies. Firstly, cultural context is described, in which semi-public companies have developed particular set family-friendly policies, attempted serve needs employees enduring blockade and bombardment. Then, ideas are exploring why adoption ...

This article is published as part of the Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography special issue “Palestinian Futures Anticipation, Imagination, Embodiments”, edited by Mikko Joronen, Helga Tawil-Souri, Merav Amir & Mark Griffiths.ABSTRACT The 2005 Israeli Disengagement from Gaza Strip has left this region in a political and legal limbo. No longer strictly fully complying with definition a...