9. Khawaja, M. Fertility of Palestinian women in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon. 2001, 38pp.

This article presents a largely descriptive account of family reproduction among the Palestinian refugee populations in four settings: the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan and Lebanon. Trends and differentials in fertility and contraceptive use are described using high quality household survey data. Comparisons with the non-refugee population in each of the four settings are made. Issues related to family reproduction among Palestinian refugees are of particular policy concerns largely because the demographic future of the Palestinians is largely determined by fertility. On the one hand, refugee status can no longer be considered a fundamental distinguishing feature of Palestinian reproductive behavior. The findings indicate that variations across countries far exceed those between refugees and non-refugees within the same setting. On the other hand, the refugee population has become more differentiated over the years, with those residing outside the camps having generally different (socio-economic and demographic) characteristics than their camp counterparts. Thus, the camp, non-camp distinctions are still relevant everywhere, notwithstanding the legal or the circumstantial situation of the refugees residing in the various settings.