83. Israeli Ministry of Health. Health in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, 1989-1990. Jerusalem: Israeli Ministry of Health, 1990: 49 pp.

A presentation of the Israeli military government's health services in the occupied Territories. This report highlights some developments in the health care system during the previous year:

1. The introduction of a hepatitis vaccine for newborns with mothers with HB antibodies.

2. A sero-survey of circulating antibodies in school children aged 7 - 9 years in 1987 showed Polio (I, II, III) in 96-99% of the children, Measles in 82% and tetanus in 72%.

3. PKU and HT screening has been introduced.

4. The proportion of low birth weights of newborns (measured in medical facilities) increased in 1988.

5. The discussion of "growth of infants" also leaves some unanswered questions. It is conventional to present anthropometric data by quoting the percentage of the population under a certain cutoff point of a reference standard (for example 2 SD or 80% for ht/wt/age). This enables estimation of whether there is a significant difference between the population and a well nourished reference.

The authors, however, present their data as follows: "studies of growth patterns in Judea and Samaria showed some differences with patterns of the United States National Center for Health Statistics (USNCHS) (standards)"... and ... "a random sample of school children studied in 1987 in Gaza showed patterns similar to the NCHS pattern albeit with a wider standard deviation.

6. The discussion of infant mortality acknowledges that reported IMR estimates are incomplete and states that "HSRCS are conducting studies of infant deaths as to direct and indirect controlling factors, causes and location of deaths".

In fact, the first infant mortality survey, conducted in the Hebron area (see Abu Dahou) has been completed for several years. The Israeli authorities have refused to allow the publication of the findings that indicate a much higher IMR than is officially claimed.