Water Insecurity in the Jordan Valley: Community Perspectives on Its Impacts on Maternal and Child Health

The Jordan Valley in the West Bank in Palestine provides a unique social, environmental, and geopolitical context in regard to the global challenge of water insecurity, where its impacts on child and maternal health are only partly understood. Existing research has been largely limited to investigations of water quantity/quality and direct health outcomes, such as infectious disease. This qualitative study aimed to provide a holistic perspective of the challenge of water insecurity and child health, by investigating household water insecurity in Palestine. Focus group discussions explored the lived experiences of women from marginalized communities. These were then thematically analyzed, in reference to social theory. The study identified context-specific aspects of water insecurity, shaped by the background in Palestine involving the occupation and ongoing violent conflict in the area. These challenges disproportionately affect women, who are primarily responsible for water management within their communities, leading to embodied experiences, heightened negative emotions, and increased conflict, both within households and the broader community. Consequently, these stressors heavily impact children: limited caretaking time, due to economic pressures, children's involvement in water-related tasks, and the disruption of social cohesion at both the community and household level, ultimately affect their physical and mental health and their ability to learn and play. Our findings could guide research and policy efforts in developing context-sensitive tools, such as a child water stress index for Palestine.