Objectives: To determine the factors associated with domestic violence against pregnant Palestinian refugee women residing in Lebanon and currently using the United Nation Relief and Work Agency's (UNRWA) primary healthcare services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a polyclinic of primary healthcare of the UNRWA in South Lebanon during the years 2005-2006. The sample was 351 pregnant women who were 15-42 years of age and not accompanied by their husbands or relatives. All women were invited by the midwife to participate in the study during their visit to the clinic for their first checkup or during a follow-up visit. The Abuse Assessment Screen instrument was used to screen for past and recent history of physical and emotional abuse among the participants. Results: Domestic violence was significantly associated with education, gestational age, fear of husband or someone else in the house, and unintended pregnancy. The odds of abuse for women with an elementary or lower education were 6.86 (95% CI 1.2-38.1) and for women with an intermediate or secondary education 6.84 (95% CI 1.4-33.3) compared with women with a university education. The odds of abuse during pregnancy for women whose husbands did not desire their pregnancy were 3.80 (95% CI 1.5-9.7) compared with other women. Conclusions: Domestic violence against women in Lebanon was associated with educational level, gestational age, fear of husband or someone else in the house, and unintended pregnancy.

BackgroundThe 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.MethodsWe used the same preceding-birth technique as in previous surveys. All multiparous mothers who came to the 22 UNRWA health centres to register their last-born child for immunization were asked if their preceding child was alive or dead. We based our target sample size on the infant mortality rate in 2008 and included 3128 mothers from August until October 2013. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of infant mortality.FindingsInfant mortality in 2013 was 22.4 per 1000 live births compared with 20.2 in 2008 (p = 0.61), and this change reflected a statistically significant increase in neonatal mortality (from 12.0 to 20.3 per 1000 live births, p = 0.01). The main causes of the 65 infant deaths were preterm birth (n = 25, 39%), congenital anomalies (n = 19, 29%), and infections (n = 12, 19%). Risk factors for infant death were preterm birth (OR 9.88, 3.98–24.85), consanguinity (2.41, 1.35–4.30) and high-risk pregnancies (3.09, 1.46–6.53).ConclusionFor the first time in five decades, mortality rates have increased among Palestine refugee newborns in Gaza. The possible causes of this trend may include inadequate neonatal care. We will estimate infant and neonatal mortality rates again in 2015 to see if this trend continues and, if so, to assess how it can be reversed.

Objective: To assess anaemia prevalence and correlated social and biological determinants among pregnant women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt). Design: A cross-sectional survey conducted among pregnant women attending/ accessing UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) health centres in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in September and October 2006. Setting: Fifty-five UNRWA health centres in the oPt (eighteen in the Gaza Strip and thirty-seven in the West Bank). Subjects: A random sample of 1740 pregnant women. Results: Overall anaemia prevalence was 38?6 % (95 % CI 36?3, 40?9 %). A substantial difference in anaemia prevalence was observed between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (44?9 % v. 31?1 %, respectively), as well as a significant increase in anaemia prevalence in the Gaza Strip compared with an Agency-wide survey conducted in 2004 (44?9 % v. 35?7 %, respectively). Anaemia prevalence was found to increase with age, parity and trimester of gestation. Conclusions: Anaemia still appears to be a public health problem among pregnant women in spite of UNRWA interventions. The West Bank shows prevalence rates similar to those observed in neighbouring countries, while the Gaza Strip has higher rates. Prevalence rates of anaemia among pregnant Palestinian women are more than two times higher than those observed in Europe.

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Family planning is recognized as among the 4 core components of safe motherhood. This survey aimed to map evidence-based best policy and programme practices in family planning in the Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was developed to survey different components of 7 essential elements of successful family planning programmes. Responses were received from the ministry of health in 18 out of 22 Member States. A total of 17 out of 18 responding countries (94%) (including 7 priority countries for Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5) confirmed the availability of at least 5 out of the 7 surveyed essential elements of successful family planning programmes. Documented available best practices in family planning suggest a need for close coordination and collaboration among stakeholders in scaling up these best practices, especially in priority countries, to improve maternal and child health in the Region. Cartographie des meilleures pratiques dans la mise en oeuvre des politiques et des programmes de planification familiale dans la Région de la Méditerranée orientale : une étape vers un élargissement coordonné RÉSUMÉ La planification familiale est reconnue comme faisant partie des quatre éléments indispensables d'une maternité à moindre risque. La présente enquête visait à cartographier les meilleures pratiques reposant sur une base factuelle pour la mise en oeuvre des politiques et des programmes de planification familiale dans les États Membres de la Région OMS de la Méditerranée orientale. Un questionnaire structuré et destiné à être autoadministré a été élaboré afin d'évaluer les différentes composantes de sept éléments essentiels dans un programme de planification familiale efficace. Des réponses ont été reçues du ministère de la Santé de 18 États Membres sur 22. Au total, 17 pays sur 18 ayant répondu (94 %) (les sept pays prioritaires pour les objectifs 4 et 5 du Millénaire pour le développement compris) ont confirmé la disponibilité d'au moins 5 éléments essentiels étudiés sur les 7 requis pour un programme de planification familiale efficace. Les meilleures pratiques documentées et disponibles en matière de planification familiale suggèrent qu'une coordination et une collaboration étroites sont nécessaires entre les parties prenantes dans l'élargissement de la mise en oeuvre de ces meilleures pratiques, en particulier dans les pays prioritaires, afin d'améliorer la santé des mères et des enfants dans la Région.