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Pediatrics

Suboptimal Pediatric Care Quality in Gaza Strip Hospitals Revealed

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted in 2023 before the Gaza war aimed to assess the quality of pediatric care in Gaza Strip hospitals using the World Health Organization's integrated tool. The study found suboptimal pediatric care quality, with the lowest score for the healthcare providers' physical environment and the highest score for respecting children's rights. The study highlights the need for infrastructural improvements and essential resources to enhance the overall quality of care for children.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study assessed pediatric care quality in three major governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip: Al-Nasr, Al-Durra, and Al-Rantisi.
  • A total of 336 participants were included, with 59.5% male and 40.5% female.
  • The overall total scores for healthcare providers' responses to the eight WHO quality standards was 29.5%, with the lowest score for Standard VIII (8.3%), related to the physical environment.
  • Statistically significant differences were found for standards I, II, IV, VII, and VIII between the hospitals (P-values not specified).
  • The study revealed a need to prioritize upgrading the physical environment and ensuring the availability of essential resources, such as water, sanitation, and medical supplies.
  • The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals working to improve pediatric care in Gaza.
  • The research was conducted by Saeed Y. Eleyyan and his team from the University of Albutana.
  • Additional authors for this research include Bothyna B. ELssyed Etewa, Fatma Al'Haj Ahmad, and Abdel Hamid El Bilbeisi.

Statistics:

  • 336 participants were included in the study (59.5% male, 40.5% female).
  • The overall total scores for healthcare providers' responses to the eight WHO quality standards was 29.5%.
  • The low score for Standard VIII (8.3%) and the high score for Standard V (70.9%) were noted.
  • Statistically significant differences were found for standards I, II, IV, VII, and VIII between the hospitals (P-values not specified).

Sources:

  • Evaluation of the quality of care in pediatric hospitals in the Gaza Strip using the WHO integrated tool: the healthcare providers' perspective. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2025,13. (Frontiers in Pediatrics - http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/pediatrics). The publisher for Frontiers in Pediatrics is Frontiers Media S.A.
  • NewsRx. Reports from University of Albutana Describe Recent Advances in Pediatrics (Evaluation of the quality of care in pediatric hospitals in the Gaza Strip using the WHO integrated tool: the healthcare providers' perspective). Health & Medicine Week. May 16, 2025; p 4951.

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