ABSTRACT
Substandard sanitary conditions in many Arab villages, together with the class situation of the Arabs and a transition from traditional to modern lifestyles, converge to affect the health of Arab population. Lags in awareness of the differential risk factors, a fast rate of change, and a lack in health services offering early discovery and treatment greater in Arab than in Jewish communities, mean that among Arabs the cerebrovascular diseases less often receive even corrective treatment. Infant mortality among Arabs in Israel has undergone a steady decline over the period of the state, but comparison with Jews is unfavorable. Congenital mortality, reflecting both genetic and environmental factors, is persistently high among Arabs. The state's immunization programs and other health campaigns, which generally cover the Arab population, have succeeded in virtually eliminating the subtropical infective diseases. Some chronic and acute undernutrition has been found among poor infants, Arabs and Jews, although at a higher prevalence among Arabs.
