Inequity in health. A case study.

This article presents a particular case of inequity in health, that of two types of Israeli urban settlement: development towns and veteran towns. Inequity in health is demonstrated by the varying levels of resources allocated to each type of community, by the differences in health-care utilization (process), and by the diversity of external factors affecting the two categories of towns. Despite the existence of almost universal health insurance coverage in Israel, it is shown that inhabitants of less privileged development towns are more prone to inequitable health outcomes with respect to the wealthier populations living in veteran towns.

[Physician-initiated smoking cessation program].

The detrimental effects of smoking are well-known, but physicians have generally been unsuccessful in eliminating this serious public health problem. It has been suggested that the family physician is the ideal person to give antismoking advice and to initiate a treatment program. The aim of this study was to examine intervention by family physicians in cigarette smoking.

Primary care utilization in Israel--analysis of national data.

Analysis of data from the 1981 National Health Services Utilization Survey was carried out in order to identify factors relevant to primary care utilization in Israel on a semi-quantitative basis. The analysis consisted of stratification of the sample population into age- and sex-groups and the use of a logistic regression model for each stratum. Within the strata age still played a major role in explaining the probability of utilization; in addition, origin, employment status and education were also significant for most strata.

Tracking of blood pressure over an eight year period in Jerusalem school children.

Tracking of blood pressure (BP) over an 8-year period between the age of 6 and 14 years and the effect of weight, height, BMI and weight gain has been studied in a population of school children in Jerusalem (n = 533). Pearson's correlation coefficients were 0.65 for weight, 0.