Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit最新文献

Background: The current conflict in Gaza has been particularly catastrophic, resulting in over 40 000 deaths, 90 000 injuries and extensive damage to infrastructure. Displaced residents now live in crowded shelters.

Aim: To highlight how the current conditions contribute to the spread of infectious diseases among the displaced.

Methods: This is a narrative review of the situation in Gaza during the October 2023 war. It was based on observations in the Gaza Strip and published reports.

Results: Due to the war, Gaza is faced with contaminated water sources, damaged sewage systems, severe overcrowding, waste accumulation, high insect populations, damaged health facilities, and insufficient vaccination coverage. As a result, diseases such as scabies, chickenpox, hepatitis A, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and polio have emerged, with the first polio case reported in Deir al-Balah in an unvaccinated child.

Conclusion: There is a need for coordinated local and international interventions to ensure the provision of potable water, resume immunization campaigns, provide food and other material aid, ensure proper waste management, increase awareness of disease risks, and strengthen health systems to support the control of diseases.

Background: The war in Gaza has led to the destruction of health centres and medication shortages, impacting the most vulnerable groups, including children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D).

Aim: To determine how the conflict in Gaza has affected the care of children with T1D.

Methods: We collected data from 29 patients with T1D, aged ≤18 years, between June and July 2024 using an online questionnaire, and analysed the data using SPSS version 21. The data included their sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, diabetes-related data, the impact of war on T1D, and lifestyle changes.

Results: Of the 29 patients, 86.2% of their parents reported a decline in their children's activity levels, 17.2% due to fear, and 58.6% reported that their child's average weight loss was 2.6±2.7 (range 0-10) kg. Most patients (79.3%) were unable to receive adequate diabetes care during the war. As a result, 10.3% were hospitalized due to a diabetic emergency. At the family level, 79.3% of the patients' families experienced food insecurity and 96.6% had limited food choices. And 41.4% said their foods may not have been compliant with a diabetes diet requirement.

Conclusion: Children with T1D in Gaza could not receive adequate diabetic care due to the war and experienced food insecurity with limited food choices, medication shortages and poor glycaemic controls. There is a critical need to prioritize chronic disease management in conflict-affected areas and among populations with restricted access to healthcare, to prevent the consequent detrimental health effects.

Background: War and political instability continue in the Gaza Strip, and little is known about the impact on the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and analyse the potential factors associated with them among internally displaced persons in the Gaza Strip.

Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive survey used a structured self-administered questionnaire to collect data from internally displaced persons aged ≥ 18 years in Deir al-Balah and South Gaza between 15 June and 15 August 2024. It used the Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items to investigate symptom severity for depression, anxiety and stress within one week before the survey. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0.

Results: Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were 99.5%, 99.7% and 93.7%, respectively. Participants aged >40 years had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing mental health disorder (P < 0.05). Majority of the participants (89.8%) were forced to change their shelter at least 2 times. Those who were forcefully displaced for more than 4 times had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing mental health disorder (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among internally displaced persons in the Gaza Strip, particularly among those living in tents and those frequently forced to change their shelter. These findings support the urgent need for effective interventions to prevent and control these disorders among affected families in Gaza and similar conflict zones.

Background: The current war in Gaza has resulted in extensive destruction, displacement and severe health challenges, affecting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. High rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and complex grief are prevalent, disrupting social networks, family cohesion, and community structures.

Aim: To provide an overview of the mental health and psychosocial impact of the war in Gaza, identify research gaps and highlight key considerations for improving mental health and psychosocial support in conflict settings.

Methods: This narrative review examined published studies and reports focusing on mental health and psychosocial support strategies and intervention effectiveness, as well as challenges in the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support in the Gaza Strip.

Results: Findings revealed high rates of mental health disorders driven by violence, loss and displacement. Interventions such as community-based programmes, telemedicine and culturally adapted care show promise but there are gaps, including the need for longitudinal studies and gender-specific analyses.

Conclusion: The war in Gaza has imposed a substantial mental health burden on individuals, disrupting community wellbeing. We advocate context-sensitive interventions, integrated into emergency response and recovery and emphasizing resilience, community support and culturally adapted care.

Background: Research on food insecurity in the State of Palestine, including its impact on dietary habits, remains limited.

Aim: To examine the prevalence of food insecurity in Nablus Governorate, West Bank.

Methods: We collected quantitative data from representatives of 352 households aged ≥18 years and quantitative data from 12 household breadwinners at 9 locations in Nablus. We analysed the data with SPSS version 22 and used chi-square test to determine the associations between food insecurity and various study variables.

Results: Among the 328 participants, 21.6% were food insecure, of which 17.7% were moderate and 4% severe. Food security was higher in the cities (46.7%) than the villages (38.9%) and camps (14.4%). Food insecurity was significantly associated with employment status (P < 0.001), number of breadwinners (P < 0.00) and the types and frequencies of food groups available for consumption.

Conclusion: Continuous war, movement restrictions and increasing unemployment are exacerbating food insecurity and food injustice in the West Bank, especially in refugee camps. Policies and strategies are needed to improve food sovereignty and security in the State of Palestine.

Healthcare has been a primary casualty of the recent conflict in Gaza, a 365-square-kilometre territory of 2 million residents. By the time a tenuous ceasefire agreement was reached in late January 2025, after more than 500 days of bombardment and heavy artillery attacks, at least 47 354 Palestinians had been killed and 111 563 others injured. More than 92% of the housing units had been destroyed or damaged, and practically the entire population had been displaced, requiring emergency shelter and essential household items.