Geographical accessibility seems to be the most important factor determining the use of these services. Utilization of primary health care services is much lower than it is in the Jewish population in Israel, but well within the limits of what is found in Western Europe. Coverage does not seem to be determined by refugee status or camp residency. Important determinants of coverage rates are age, wealth, residency in Arab Jerusalem, and full time employment. Comparison with studies in other countries is difficult, but the proportion of people who report symptoms of psychological distress seems relatively high.
Somatic illness is a strong determinant of psychological distress.
When corrected for illness, the degree of distress increases slightly with age. More symptoms of distress are reported by individuals who have somebody in the household that has been arrested during the intifada, or who have a child that has been seriously injured during the last two months. This may indicate that trauma is a possible reason for the very high numbers of symptoms reported.