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. DESIGN: Consecutive registration of demographic and medical data, with information about transportation time, delay in access to hospital, and course of hospital contact. SETTING: Three hospital emergency departments in Bethlehem and Nablus, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, during one week in each hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
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. DESIGN: Consecutive registration of demographic and medical data, with information about transportation time, delay in access to hospital, and course of hospital contact. SETTING: Three hospital emergency departments in Bethlehem and Nablus, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, during one week in each hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Clea A McNeely; Brian K Barber; Rita Giacaman; Robert F Belli; Mahmoud Daher Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2017-11-21 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Brian K Barber; Clea A McNeely; Eyad El Sarraj; Mahmoud Daher; Rita Giacaman; Cairo Arafat; William Barnes; Mohammed Abu Mallouh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-05-27 Impact factor: 3.240