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Cherki M, Frenkel A, Hassan L, Klassov Y, Bloom S, David C, Shaked G. Analysis of Trauma Injuries Among the Minority Population in Southern Israel-a District-Wide Study. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2022; 9:1957-1964. [PMID: 35484447 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-021-01134-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We compared characteristics of traumatic injury between the Bedouin subpopulation, the largest minority group in southern Israel, and the other residents in this region. METHODS We assessed all the patients admitted with traumatic injuries during 2014-2018 to the only regional hospital in southern Israel. RESULTS The cohort comprised 10,734 patients, 4553 (42.5%) of Bedouin origin. Compared to the non-Bedouin subpopulation, in the Bedouin subpopulation, the proportion of injuries that occurred in males was higher, 74.3% vs. 53.7%, P < 0.001, and the proportion of burn injuries that occurred in children aged 0-14 years was higher, 84% vs. 49%. Among the Bedouin and non-Bedouin patients, the respective proportions with penetrating injuries were 10.7 and 5.4%; the respective proportions who arrived at the hospital by private vehicles were 62.0 and 33.1%. In multivariate analysis, the variables that were significant for increased odds for severe trauma were Bedouin origin, male gender, and arrival to the emergency room at night. CONCLUSION This study highlights the lack of access to basic infrastructure and healthcare among Bedouins in southern Israel. The high proportion of penetrating injuries in this subpopulation is apparently due to explosions of unexploded ordnance. The unavailability of electricity and waste removal in unrecognized villages contributes to burn injuries among Bedouin children. Poor accessibility of healthcare facilities and emergency medical transportation necessitates travel to hospitals by private car. The findings should direct trauma prevention programs to reduce burn and penetrating injuries and to increase accessibility to healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mordechai Cherki
- Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Amit Frenkel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. .,General Intensive Care Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, PO Box 151, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel.
| | - Lior Hassan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Yuri Klassov
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Orthopedic Surgery Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Shlomo Bloom
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Orthopedic Surgery Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Czeiger David
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Department of General Surgery B, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Gad Shaked
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.,Department of General Surgery B, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
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