Mechanisms for racial separation and inequitable maternal care in hospital maternity wards.

Few studies have examined mechanisms of racial maternal separation (RMS) of birthing mothers in hospital maternity wards (MWs), and how separation might reinforce institutional healthcare racism and discrimination, leading to inequitable maternal care (MC). In Israel, while birth mothers report mostly pleasant experiences, RMS has become a matter of public debate. Although the Ministry of Health (MoH) condemns the practice, birthing Palestinian-Arab women have sued hospitals for discrimination after being assigned to separate MW rooms from other women.

Polygamy and birth outcomes among Bedouin women of the Negev: The contribution of social determinants and pregnancy complications.

Polygamy has been associated with adverse health outcomes. We examined the association between polygamy and adverse birth outcomes (composite score of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, Apgar score < 7) using survey data linked to retrospective medical data of 9,872 cohort Bedouin women who bore live singletons in a large medical center in Southern Israel between 2008 and 2014. Women in polygamous marriages (18%) were more likely to have adverse birth outcomes after considering different factors (AOR = 1.

Sense of coherence among Bedouin women in polygamous marriages compared to women in monogamous marriages.

We compared sense of coherence (SOC) among Bedouin women in polygamous with those in monogamous marriages. SOC is a global orientation toward life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, and is derived from generalized resistance resources that promote effective coping in stressful life situations. Strong SOC may be a resource for strengthening resilience and promoting health.

Screening and receiving information for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings: a cross-sectional study of Arab and Jewish women of childbearing age in Israel.

Objectives: We studied the proportion of women who have ever been screened (ES) for intimate partner violence (IPV) in a healthcare setting, received information (RI) about relevant services, or both, and explored disparities in screening and information provision by ethnicity and other characteristics.

Design: In 2014-2015, we undertook a cross-sectional study, conducting interviews using a structured questionnaire among a stratified sample of 1401 Arab and Jewish women in Israel.

Setting: A sample of 63 maternal and child health clinics (MCH) clinics in four geographical districts.