The health survey 2000 is the second health survey conducted by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). The first one was conducted in 1996.

This survey took place in cooperation between PCBS and Ministry of Health, and funded by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, 37.7%), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 31.5%) and (PCBS, 30.8%).

The aim of the survey is to collect data on the health and demographic status of the Palestinian population in the Palestinian Territory, particularly health indicators related to mothers and their children. Main fieldwork started in April 10 and lasted for May 31, 2000. Data entry and data cleaning was completed in June 2000.

The total number of interviewed Palestinian households is 6,204 of which 4,164 households in the West Bank and 2,040 in Gaza Strip. The total number of interviewed eligible women is 5,729.

Data revealed that the average household size is 6.1 in the Palestinian Territory, 5.7 in the West Bank and 6.9 in Gaza Strip. While it was 6.4 in the Palestinian Territory in 1997. The average housing density was 2.0 in the Palestinian Territory, 1.9 in the West Bank and 2.0 in Gaza Strip. This figure is identical to the Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 1997.

Data showed that 2.0% of persons in the Palestinian Territory received treatment for Diabetes, 2.4% received treatment for Blood Pressure, 1.2% received treatment for Cardiac Diseases, 0.1% received treatment for Cancer, 0.8% of them received treatment for Ulcer, and 0.7% received treatment for Asthma, while 0.3% received treatment for Epilepsy.

The survey findings indicate that 44.3% of males 14 year and over showed a practice of smoking habit, against 3.4% among females in the Palestinian Territory. The corresponding figures in 1996 were 39.9% and 2.7% respectively.

Also the data reveal that 45.2 % of households in the Palestinian Territory consumes adequate amount of Iodized salt, of which 52.5% in the West Bank and 29.6 % in Gaza Strip.

The results show that 61.4% of persons 4 years and over in the Palestinian Territory reported to have some sort of health insurance, 29.0% of them have governmental health insurance, 14.6% have UNRWA insurance, 11.2% have private insurance, and 6.6% have other insurance. Compared to 56.8% in 1996, of them 33.7% had governmental health insurance, 18.8% had UNRWA insurance, 3.1% had private insurance and 1.3% have other insurance.

Data reveal that the mean number of children ever born alive is 4.6 in the Palestinian Territory. Compared to 4.8 in 1995. The corresponding figures for West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2000 are 4.4 and 4.8 respectively. 

Concerning currently use of family planning methods, the percentage of currently married women in the Palestinian Territory who are currently using any family planning method was 46.2 %, compared to 45.3% in 1996.

The survey results indicate that the percentage of women in the Palestinian Territory who had alive birth in the last year preceding the survey and received tetanus toxoid during last pregnancy is 34.6 %, and compared to 22.0% for pregnant women during the survey in 1996.

Concerning Ante-natal care, the data reveal that the percentage of births (last two) born during the last three years preceding the survey whose mothers received ante-natal care was 95.3% in the Palestinian Territory, comparison to 94.6% in 1996.

While, the percentage of births (last two) occurred in the last three years preceding the survey whose mothers suffered from clampsia during pregnancy is 2.2%, and 24.2% suffer from urinary tract infections.

According to place of delivery, data showed that 94.8% of births in the Palestinian Territory occurred at health institutions, compared to 86.8% in 1996.

Concerning nature of delivery, the results indicate that 72.3% of births occurred normally, and 8.7% of them occurred by caesarean. The corresponding figures in 1996 were 72.3% and 6.8% respectively.

Meanwhile, the percentage of last two births whose mothers received post-natal care was only 26.2% in the Palestinian Territory, while it was 19.5% in 1996.

Among children born in the three years preceding the survey, 96.3% reported to have been breastfed, while it was 96.0% in 1996. The continued breastfeeding rate was 67.0% in the Palestinian Territory, while it was 58.3% in 1996.

According to child health, data reveal that 6.5% among children under five years of age had diarrhea episode in the last two weeks preceding the survey in the Palestinian Territory, compared to 13.5% in 1996.

Also the percentage of children under five years of age in the Palestinian Territory who had cough was 16.9%, while it was 24.7% in 1996.

Concerning immunization, the percentage of children under five years of age who have immunization card either it was seen or not, immunized against polio (3^rd dose) was 86.1%, and 85.2% immunized against DPT (3^rd dose), and 49.6 % received immunization against Measles, while it was 84.3%, 84.6% and 36.9% respectively in 1996 only for children whose immunization card was seen.

The regulates indicate that 8.5% of children under five years of age in the Palestinian Territory suffers from stunting i.e. increased by 18.0% from 1996, 2.7% of children under five years suffer from under weight, compared to 4.0% in 1996. Also regulates indicate that 2.1% of children under five suffer from wasting, compared to 2.8% in 1996.

The data showed that 97.2% of children under five years of age in the Palestinian Territory have birth certificate.