PALESTINIAN SOCIETY - Fafo

the population of 12% for men and 16% for women. In the
Lithuanian survey the rate was almost the same, as 14% of the
population reported musculo-skeletal diseases and bodily pains,
this being the major cause of chronic illness. In the Norwegian
Health Survey such pain was an even more dominating cause of
illness with a prevalenee of 21 %.
Men tend to have higher rates of physical handicaps as weU as
of hearing, speech or sight impairment than women do. In most
international studies (Feaehem et al, 1992), injury is an important
cause of mortality and morbidity among male adults. Hence,
injuries may also be the main cause of the high prevalenee of
disability among men in the occupied territories.
It seems that the prevalenee of non-communicable diseases is
relatively high, as witnessed by the frequencies of hypertension,
heart disease and diabetes. Diabetes is regularly underreported by
at least 20-50% (clinicaUy diagnosed) in studies of self-perceived
illness. A prevalenee of 10% (95 % confidenee interval: 8-12 %) in
the age group of 40-59 is comparatively high, but still not surprising
in the Middle East (King and Rewers, 1991). Apparently the
high frequencies of gastrointestinal diseases (9%), respiratory
diseases and 'other diseases' (5%) reflect instances of infective
and parasitic diseases as weU as of non-communicable diseases.
Table 4.4 Specijic groups of prolonged illnesses Cases of selected
prolonged illnesses and afflictions due to injury or handicap. Per cent
of total population (respondents )
Women (1 198) Men (1243) Total (2441)
All 30 30 . 30
Hypertension 7 3 5
Heart disease, diseases of the
cardiovascular system
3 2 3
Diabetes
. .
4 3 4
Pain in joints, back pains, leg
pains, muscle pains
16 12. 14
Gastrointestinal 10 8 9
Respiratory 6 6 6
Physical handicap 1 4 3
Hearing, speech or sight
impairment
2 4 3
Mental disability, epileptic
seizures, severe stress, nervous 2 2 2
breakdown
Other 4 5 5
105