A cross-sectional study was conducted among 286 Palestinian children 9-18 years of age and their mothers in the Gaza Strip. Traumatic events recollected by children living in areas of conflict, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress reactions and the relationship between children’s and mothers’ mental health were investigated. The Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Impact of Event Scale [IES] and General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] were used to measure outcome. Children experienced on average four traumatic events; one-third reported significant post-traumatic stress reactions. IES scores were higher among girls and mothers’ GHQ scores significantly predicted children’s IES scores.

Yémen : caractéristiques des cas d'hospitalisation associés aux infections respiratoires aiguës sévères, 2014-2015RÉSUMÉ Cette étude présente les agents étiologiques, les données démographiques des patients, la saisonnalité et les pathologies sous-jacentes chez des patients hospitalisés en raison d'infections respiratoires aiguës sévères (IRAS) au Yémen. Nous avons réalisé une analyse descriptive rétrospective des données portant sur les IRAS et couvrant la période de janvier 2014 à décembre 2015. Des sécrétions rhinopharyngées ont été prélevées par écouvillonnage pour chaque patient afin d'être testées en laboratoire. Un total de 1 346 échantillons diagnostiques ont été testés, parmi lesquels 733 (54 %) se sont avérés positifs aux virus de la grippe. Les virus de la grippe A(H3N2) (5 %) et A(H1N1)pdm09 (3 %) étaient prédominants. Le virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS) a été observé principalement chez les enfants (41 %). Les sujets de sexe masculin étaient plus touchés (61 %) que les sujets de sexe féminin. L'âge médian était d'un an (intervalle : 0,5-94). La durée médiane d'hospitalisation était de 6 jours. Les maladies cardio-vasculaires chroniques constituaient la pathologie la plus fréquemment rapportée ; 67 % ne présentaient aucune pathologie sous-jacente établie. Les cas d'hospitalisation étaient généralement associés à des virus respiratoires, en particulier au VRS, à l'adénovirus et à la grippe.ABSTRACT This study aims to describe etiological agents, demographic details of patients, seasonality and underlying conditions among patients hospitalized due to viral severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Yemen. We carried out a retrospective descriptive analysis of data from January 2014 to December 2015. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from each patient for laboratory testing. A total of 1346 diagnostic specimens were tested, of which 733 (54%) were positive for influenza viruses. Influenza A(H3) and A(H1N1) pdm09 predominated. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was reported predominantly among children (41%). Males (61%) were more affected than females. The median age was 1 year (range 0.5-94.0). The median length of hospitalization was 6 days. Chronic cardiovascular disease was the most commonly reported underlying condition, but 67% had no documented underlying disease. Respiratory viruses, particularly RSV, adenovirus and influenza, were commonly associated with hospitalization for SARI.

Aim: The study aimed to examine the mental health status of the patients with cancer and the coping strategies that adopted by them in front of stressful situations. Method:The sample consisted of 358 patients with cancer in the oncology clinic at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Strip. Participants were interviewed individually by questionnaire include socioeconomic questionnaire, PTSD scale, and Ways of coping Scale. Results:The study showed that 42.5% of patients had PTSD, 47% had re-experiencing of PTSD, 40.5% had hyperarousal, and 40.1% had avoidance symptoms. The group of 40 years and less were significantly higher in reexperiences than 71 years and above among the study sample.The results showed that affiliation at the highest rank (81.6%), followed by reinterpretation (75.5%), self-control coping strategy (75.3%), problem solving (72.3%), wish and avoidance thinking was (69.0%), trouble and escape was (61.8%), accountability coping strategy was (53.0%) among the study sample of patients with cancer. The result showed that there were no significant differences in sex of patients and wish and avoidance thinking, problem solving, reinterpretation, affiliation, accountability, and self-control. However, there were significant differences in trouble and escape in favor of male patients.There was positive significant correlation between wish and avoidance thinking and re-experience of PTSD. In addition, there were positive significant correlation between accountability and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD. In addition, there were positive significant correlation between Trouble and escape and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD. While; there were negative significant correlation between problem solving and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between re-interpretation and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between affiliation and PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between selfcontrol and PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD.Clinical implications: Our findings highlight the need for therapeutic and educational programmes-including counseling for those patients with cancer and their families, support groups, and behavioural therapy for patients with P.T.S.D, and other psychiatric disorders. Also, new family therapy programmes must be established aimed at improving communications and interactions between family members, as well as teaching problemsolving skills to assist the family members in confronting the mental health problems associated with cancer.

IntroductionPalestinian families, like families in other societies, are subject to all forms of natural and man-made disasters and traumatic events. Review of the literature on the relationship between psychological disorders and exposure to political and military violence showed that anxiety, psychosomatic, and depression symptoms seem to be shared by most families who were subjected to political or military violence irrespective of their ethnic or cultural background. AbstractPurpose: Exposure to war trauma has been independently associated with posttraumatic stress (PTSD) and grief in children and adults. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between war traumatic experiences due to last war on Gaza, PTSD, traumatic grief, death anxiety, and general mental health.Methods: The study was conducted in the Gaza Strip; in areas exposed to war for 23 days. The sample included 374 adults aged from 22 to 65 years with mean age 40.13. Participants completed measures of experience of traumatic events (Gaza Traumatic Checklist-War on Gaza), PTSD, Grief inventory, Arabic Version of Death Anxiety Scale, and GHQ-28.Results: Palestinians experiences variety of traumatic events: The most common reported traumatic events were: 95.7% said they hear of shelling and bombardment of the their area, 94.7% reported watching mutilated bodies in TV, 92.8 % reported seeing the bombardment effects on ground, 71.7% said they had lack of water, food and electricity during the war, and 72.2% said they moved to save place during the war. Each person reported 13.80 traumatic events. The results showed that no one felt safe at home, 2.1% of fathers said they were able to protect their children, while 2.8% of mothers said they were safe at homes. The study showed that 3.1% fathers were able to protect their children compared to 6.6% of mothers, 2.8% of fathers were able to protect themselves compared to 6.1% of mothers, and 3.1% of fathers said that someone outside the home were able to protect him compared to 2.8% of mothers.The study showed that 71 persons lost someone from their family included extended family which represented 18.8 % of the participants and 303 did not loss anyone (81.2%) from their families (first, second, third relatives) during the war compared.The study showed that mean grief reaction was 11.52 (SD=4.82). The study showed that mean grief reactions reported by male were 10.1 and mean in female was 12.69. There were statistically significant differences toward females in grief reactions.Using scoring of DSM-IV of one intrusion symptom, three avoidance, and two arousal symptoms, 248 people rated as PTSD which represented 66.6 % of the sample and 125 persons reported no PTSD (35.5%). The results showed that PTSD was reported more in females compared to males. The results showed that mean death anxiety in males was 37.4 compared to female mean=44.9. There were statistically significant differences toward females.The study showed than mean GHQ-28 was 15.6, somatization mean was 4.3, anxiety mean was 5, soci...

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