Researchers: Limor Aharonson-Daniel¹, Ygal Plakht¹, Paula Feder-Bubis¹, Nihaya Daoud¹

Background: The use of healthcare services among the Bedouin population in the Northern Negev is shaped by their personal and socio-cultural characteristics.

Objectives: To map the health needs of the Bedouin population in the Northern Negev and the healthcare facilities available to them. To characterize patterns of use of the ED by the study population. To explore the association between personal and environmental factors, and healthcare services utilization patterns. To identify barriers related to healthcare utilization. To recommend changes in healthcare services supply policy, based on identified needs.

Method: A mixed methods study including 20 in-depth interviews with Bedouin residents of the Northern Negev and 18 healthcare providers. Retrospective computerized data analysis of visits to Soroka Emergency Department in the last five years, and a population survey in recognized and unrecognized Bedouin villages.

Findings: Many Bedouins choose to go directly to the ER due to physical, cultural and language barriers in the community services. Bedouin women are an especially vulnerable group since they are at the intersection of disadvantages ingrained in social norms, values and beliefs. The number of women hospitalizations is higher than men, and it takes them less time to access the ED than men.

Conclusions: Bedouin residents of the Northern Negev region face barriers when using healthcare services. Cultural issues were identified as crucial for the optimal access and use of these services. The intersectionality of geographical and other social and cultural factors influences the way in which healthcare services are utilized among the Bedouin community.

Recommendations: In order to reduce gaps and improve access, healthcare policy needs to target Bedouin residents of the Northern Negev region by designing cultural-sensitive interventions, tailoring them to/with Bedouin women.

Research end date: 01/2020