ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was designed to examine the association between reproductive factors, family history of breast cancer, and personal history of benign breast disease, physical exercise, obesity, and breast cancer among women in Shebien El-koom, Egypt
Methods: A case-control study was carried out on a convenience sample of 156 breast cancer patients [cases] diagnosed and receiving their treatment in Tumor Treatment Unit, Menoufiya University hospital and 172 control subjects recruited from hospital visitors at same time. Both cases and controls were personally interviewed by the researchers using structured interview form. Odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for each risk factor, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis for adjusting confounding and estimating adjusted ORs
Results: Cases and controls differed significantly in job status, education and marital status [p<0.05]. Eighty percent of cases were diagnosed late, and only 30.1% were self-detected. In univariate analysis, being housewife, uneducated, and divorced were associated with increased breast cancer risk, OR=2.91, 3.90, and 7.33, respectively. Also, being premenopausal, and having menopause at age >50 years were associated with increased breast cancer risk [OR 3.88 and 10.00, respectively]. The use of hormonal contraception was protective [OR=0.14]. Frequent meat consumption, low consumption of raw vegetables and fruits, high consumption of animal fat, no practice of exercise and overweight/ obese were also associated with increased risk of breast cancer [OR=4.35, 7.75, 3.45, 7.09, and 4.17, respectively. No statistically significant associations were found between breast cancer and patient age, age at menarche, age at first delivery, family history of breast cancer, and personal history of benign breast disease. After controlling for confounding factors using logistic regression lack of education, late age at menopause [after 50], obesity or overweight, low consumption of raw vegetables and fruits, high consumption of animal fat, and frequent consumption of meat turned to be independent statistically significant risk factors of breast cancer among women of this study, whereas the use of hormonal contraceptives was protective
Conclusion: Lack of education, menopause at or after 50 years, obesity or overweight, low consumption of raw vegetables and fruits, high consumption of animal fat, and frequent consumption of meat, were associated with increased risk of breast cancer The majority of cases were diagnosed late, and only a minority was self-detected. Nursing educational programs about maintaining reasonable weight, and taking a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits and reduced in animal fat are needed. Also, educational programs about breast cancer risk factors and methods of early and self detection are recommended, with a special emphases on high-risk groups
ABSTRACT
A cross sectional interventional study was conducted on a random sample of 120 nurses in medical and surgical wards. Data were collected through a predesigned questionnaire and checklist. The number and types of bacteria on hands of nurses before and after disinfection with alternative agents and after drying were evaluated by the standard microbiological method. The results revealed that the compliance of nurses with hand washing between patients contact was quite poor [1.7%] which referred mainly to the work overload [94.9%] and the lack of resources [39.8%]. The majority of nurses had transient bacterial flora [97.5%]. The frequency of Staphylococcal aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella and Streptococcal faecalis hand infections were 47.5%, 30%, 5% and 4.2%. Betadine and alcohol disinfectants had the highest efficacy [95.5% and 90% in medical ward and 90.9% and 82.9% in surgical ward, respectively]. The efficacy of alternative hand disinfectants generally was improved after hand drying with paper towel. For plain soap and tap water, the efficacy after drying became nearly similar to betadine and alcohol