Citation

Tulchinsky TH. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 1983; 19(8): 723-726.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Israel Journal of Medical Sciences)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6885363

Abstract

Prevention is an essential feature of the concept of primary health care formulated at the Alma Ata Conference in 1978. Even in developed countries there is a renewed emphasis on prevention. In Israel the infant mortality rate (IMR) has declined for the Jewish population from about 48/1000 live births in the 1950s to 10.9/1000 in 1982; for the non-Jewish population it fell from 70/1000-19.2/1000 during that period, largely due to reductions in infectious disease deaths and in birth injury-related deaths while the number of birth defect-related deaths has remained stable. Despite these reductions, even more lives could be saved with proper preventive health programs. There is a renewed interest in Israel in children's growth as a measure of health status of the population; the wide scale prevalence of anemia (in 40-60% of infants) is of concern because of its negative impact on optimal intellectual and physical development of the child. Hearing and vision screening during the preschool and school years is seen as important. Although major progress has been made in reducing infectious disease mortality through improved socioeconomic conditions, enteric disease is still common and oral rehydration therapy has not yet been adopted by Israel's health care agencies. Road accidents are a major cause of death in Israel and along with seat belt and car and driver testing legislation, health education could help to reduce road crash mortality. Exposure of workers to asbestos over long periods of time has left thousands of workers at risk for asbestosis and these populations are being followed. Other target groups are those below the poverty level who suffer from improper health care and poor facilities, the elderly, and those at risk for coronary heart disease or in need of proper dental care.

Language: en