International Journal of Public Health
Volume 63, Issue 7, 2018, Pages 875-882

Socio-economic status and chronic disease in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip: in and outside refugee camps (Article)

Jonassen M.* , Shaheen A. , Duraidi M. , Qalalwa K. , Jeune B. , Brønnum-Hansen H.
  • a Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • b Public Health Division, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
  • c Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Ramallah, Palestine
  • d Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Ramallah, Palestine
  • e Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  • f Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

Objectives: The study investigated the association between socio-economic status (SES) and self-reported chronic disease (CD) among the Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and whether this association was similar in the refugee camps. Methods: We used data from representative samples in 2006 and 2010 collected by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. SES was defined by education, wealth and employment status. Associations between SES and CD were analysed and stratified by living in or outside refugee camps. Results: CD prevalence increased among men and decreased among women in all SES categories and the Odds Ratio for CD was higher inside than outside the refugee camps, except for women in 2006. In both 2006 and 2010 the odds ratio of CD was higher among the lowest SES groups. The pattern of the negative association between SES and CD was similar in and outside the refugee camps. Conclusions: We found that the highest burden of CD is among those with low SES. In spite of a higher CD Odds Ratio in the refugee camps, the pattern of association between SES and CD did not differ in the refugee camps. © 2018, Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+).

Author Keywords

Socio-economic factors Refugees Chronic disease Palestinian

Index Keywords

refugee demography health disparity Health Status Disparities human Refugees middle aged Self Report Middle East statistics and numerical data chronic disease Residence Characteristics Humans male female refugee camp Refugee Camps prevalence adult social class
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048490775&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-018-1122-6&partnerID=40&md5=febc31628402dcdb97a6d5908b5f7c85
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1122-6
ISSN: 16618556
Original Language: English