A comparison of health indicators and social determinants of health between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Abstract

Despite the proximity and interconnections between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt), great disparities persist in health status between these two regions. This disparity is seen in infant, child and maternal mortality, life expectancy, mortality rates for leading causes of death and measures of mental well-being. This paper compares health indicators between oPt and Israel and examines the social determinants of health that may be responsible for differences between them. Data on health indicators were obtained from publicly available publications or websites of the World Health Organization and The World Bank, as well as the database of the Global Burden of Disease Project of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Data on the social determinants of health were obtained from publications and websites of the United Nations, the World Bank, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Palestinian and Israeli government reports, reports from non-governmental organisations, peer-reviewed studies and news articles. The health disparities are due to a complex mix of factors involving economic conditions, food insecurity, environmental exposures, psychological trauma and stress, and access to health services, most of which can be related directly or indirectly to the Israeli military occupation of oPt.