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Abstract
Infant mortality provides a useful indicator of population health over time and in comparison to other populations. Bedouin Arabs are an at-risk population for adverse health outcomes for various reasons including genetic risk for malformations, high fertility rate with short interpregnancy interval, consanguinous marriages, inadequate prenatal care, and socio-economic and cultural factors. All reported cases of deaths under 1 year in Bedouin and other residents of the Negev in 2012 were reviewed, analyzed and compared to previous years. Infant mortality rates were calculated using population data (live births) from the Ministry of the Interior. Infant mortality in Bedouin Arabs in the Negev is nearly 3 times higher than in the Jewish population of the Negev. The major cause of infant mortality in the Bedouin population is congenital malformations. Trends in infant mortality in the Bedouin population are described. Principles of intervention and prevention unique to this population are discussed.
Keywords: Child health, infant mortality, Bedouin, Negev
Introduction
The Bedouin population of the Negev is undergoing a transition from a traditional, nomadic lifestyle to a semi-urbanized way of life (1). This transition has been accompanied by important changes in socio- economic and cultural factors. These factors have significant effects on the health of all segments of the population. For this reason, the monitoring of health trends over time and planning interventions to reduce morbidity, mortality, and increasing preventive measures are cornerstones of public health initiatives in at-risk populations. Infant mortality is an important and established measure of societal health, especially for comparison to other populations and over time. In addition, analysis of trends in infant mortality can assist decision-makers in allocation of health resources and in planning interventions based on principles of prevention, education, and health promotion. This article will summarize recent trends in infant mortality in the Bedouin Arabs of the Negev, describe interventions that the Israeli Ministry of Health has implemented, and suggest future directions for research, surveillance, and further reduction in infant mortality in this vulnerable population.
Unique features of the population
Bedouins comprise about 31% of the total population of the Negev, an arid and semi-arid region of 13,000 km2 in southern Israel. The population has increased from about 10,000 in 1948 to close to 200,000 in 2012. In the...