The physical and psychosocial health of Bedouin Arab women of the Negev Area of Israel

This study examined the self-reported health status of Bedouin Arab women in relation to two salient features of current Bedouin Arab social mores: the emphasis on maintaining a high rate of fertility and the social acceptance of domestic violence. A quota sample of 202 Bedouin Arab women ranging in age from 22 to 75 were personally interviewed. Forty-eight percent of the women reported a lifetime exposure to physical violence, and 30% reported domestic violence that was associated with symptoms of poor mental health status and gynecological problems. Domestic violence was associated with a large number of children, and there is some indication that the level of domestic violence decreases during pregnancy.