Service utilization patterns for childbirth and neonatal mortality in the occupied Palestinian territory during conflict

Siam, Zeina and Leone, Tiziana ORCID: 0000-0001-9671-5382 (2020) Service utilization patterns for childbirth and neonatal mortality in the occupied Palestinian territory during conflict. European Journal of Public Health, 30 (5). 856 – 860. ISSN 1101-1262

Text (Service utilization patterns for childbirth and neonatal mortality in the occupied Palestinian territory during conflict) - Accepted Version Download (225kB)

• Author

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The global incidence of man-made crises has increased in the last decade. Evidence on deviations in service uptake during conflict is needed to better understand the link between conflict and adverse neonatal outcomes. We assessed the association between conflict intensity in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) at time of birth and (i) utilization patterns for childbirth across different providers; and (ii) neonatal mortality. METHODS: We combined data on conflict intensity with four demographic and health surveys (2004, 2006, 2010 and 2014) that included nationally representative samples of women of childbearing age. Our exposure variable was casualties per 100 000 population in defined sub-regions of the oPt. Our outcome specifications were a binary variable for neonatal deaths and a categorical variable for childbirth location. We used multivariate logistic and multinomial regressions to assess the associations. RESULTS: High conflict intensity was associated with fewer childbirths in the private sector (RR=0.97, P=0.04), and non-governmental organizations (RR=0.95, P=0.03) compared to public facilities. Conflict intensity was not associated with higher neonatal mortality beyond 2004. CONCLUSIONS: Policy implications include better preparedness in the public sector for childbirth during conflict and exploring reasons for the slow decline in neonatal mortality in the territory beyond conflict at time of birth.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://academic.oup.com/eurpub
Additional Information:	© 2020 The Authors
Divisions:	International Development
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2020 14:51
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2024 08:30
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/103579

Actions (login required)

View Item