An assessment of non-fatal injuries appears in one of the oPt Abstracts published Online by The Lancet , written by Dr Nedal Ismael Ghuneim, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, oPt, and Yehia Abed, Al Quds University-Faculty of Public Health, Jerusalem, oPt.
The researchers assessed a sample of 274 people treated for war injuries at the EL-Najjar Hospital for their analysis. The ratio of men-to-women was 4:1, with women (mean age 33 years) generally older than men (mean age 25 years). More than one in three of those injured was resting at the time their injuries occurred, and more than three-quarters were injured by jet bombings.
The Dirty War Index*, which assesses the effects of conflict on populations, was found to be 20 for women and 16 for children, on a score of 1-100. For all outcomes, quality of life was found to be low for the study population compared with US and Turkish general populations. Physical, emotional, mental, and functional indicators were all worsened in those injured. Injuries not caused by bombs or shell fragments, and those that were not severe were associated with substantially improved quality of life.
The researchers conclude by calling for more mental health facilities to care for those injured by the war, so that the impact of their injuries can be reduced.
Dr Nedal Ismael Ghuneim, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, oPt. E) ghuneimnedal@yahoo.com
Full Abstract: http://press.thelancet.com/optinjuries.pdf
Note to editors: *Dirty war index (DWI): a tool which identifies rates of prohibited or highly undesirable ("dirty") war outcomes, such as torture, child injury, and civilian death. DWI is a ratio and is calculated as: (number of "dirty" cases/total number of cases) x 100. The best possible DWI value is 0, indicating that the objectionable outcome is identified in no measured cases. The worst possible DWI value is 100, indicating that the objectionable outcome is identified in 100% of measured cases.
The Lancet