@article{ref1,
title="Self-reported health complaints in a primary care population living under stressful conditions in the Gaza Strip, Palestine",
journal="Medicine, conflict and survival",
year="2010",
author="Abu-Mourada, Tayser and Koutis, Anotonis and Alegakis, Athanasios and Markaki, Adelais and Jildeh, Christine and Lionis, Christos D. and Philalithis, Anastas",
volume="26",
number="1",
pages="68-79",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The population in the Gaza Strip has been living under chronically stressful conditions as a result of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. OBJECTIVES: To identify health complaints reported by attendants consulting primary care physicians in the Gaza Strip. METHODS: The study took place in 10 governmental primary health care centres and 5 clinics of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Gaza Strip, during autumn 2005. Self-reported health complaints were recorded through face-to-face interviews with 956 respondents using a validated and reliable questionnaire. RESULTS: Abdominal pain and headache were the most frequent complaints reported among patients aged 18 to 44 years, accounting for 23.3% and 22.7% of total complaints in males and females, respectively. Fatigue and joint pain were the most common complaints among patients aged 45 years and above, accounting for 26% and 33.9% of total complaints in males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most common complaints, as reported by patients attending PHC facilities were stress-related and could be attributed to the ongoing conflict and high level of violence and uncertainty in the area. These complaints present a challenge to primary care providers in their efforts to improve the everyday quality of life of Palestinian residents with scarce means and resources.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1362-3699",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}