Universal health care? The views of Negev Bedouin Arabs on health services

Abstract

This study, one of the first of its kind in the Bedouin sector, showed that the focus group method, if properly modified to cultural norms, can be a valuable research tool in traditional communities and in health service research. The findings from this research can be used to direct efforts to improve health policy and health services for this group, as well as preparing the way for further qualitative or quantitative studies.

Lack of prenatal care in a traditional community: trends and perinatal outcomes

“…Israel has a community-based public health system which, since inception of a National Health Insurance Law (NHIL) in 1995, is run by four competing non-profit sick funds. Every Israeli citizen is eligible for an equal basic ''basket'' of health services as defined by the NHIL [21]. MotherChild-Health (MCH) services are run by the Ministry of Health: public health nurses provide primary preventive services, and medical doctors are available upon periodic visits.…”

“…Gottlieb et al [23] reported that low geographical accessibility in terms of distance is a major barrier. Other important barriers that were identified include lack of childcare, husbands' restrictions on women's mobility and the need for chaperoning, lack of proper transportation, and insufficient funds to pay user fees [21,22,24]. Until late 2010, a service charge of US$ 50 per family gave coverage for 6 months of prenatal and well baby care [22].…”

“…Apart from the structural barriers, when Bedouin patients were interviewed, they complained about medical staff lacking politeness, empathy and cultural sensitivity, and communication problems [21]. Therefore, there is also a need to bridge the linguistic, educational, and sociocultural gaps between the medical system and its users.…”

Ethnic and Gender Inequities in the Evaluation of Referred Short Children

“…The Bedouin population is a nomadic desert-dwelling population that is going through a radical process of adaptation to Western culture and healthcare [21]. In this population the grooming of the male to be a dominant supporting figure of the family, and the swaying of the female to a housewife position, are still common.…”

Validation of a screening instrument for posttraumatic stress disorder in a community sample of Bedouin men serving in the Israeli Defense Forces

“…Indeed, over the past few years, service in the IDF has been increasingly criticized from within the Bedouin community. In addition, cultural norms and values create barriers to helpseeking behavior and health services utilization (Borkan, Morad, & Shvarts, 2000), especially mental health services (Al-Kranawi, 2002). For these reasons, validation of a brief screening tool for the assessment of PTSD symptoms in this unique and previously unstudied group would be valuable.…”