impact of dietary intake and sun exposure on vitamin D deficiency among couples

The main sources of vitamin D are sun exposure and diet. There is a gap in our knowledge about the contribution of these factors to vitamin D level among couples in Bahrain. To determine vitamin D dietary intake and sun exposure and their impact on vitamin D level. Cross-sectional study. Maternity hospitals. Data were collected using an adapted pre-validated food frequency questionnaire. It was adjusted to reflect the local food items. Vitamin D intake below 600 IU was considered low. The level was assayed as 25[OH]D using chemiluminescence method. SPSS-20 was used for data analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Three hundred and twenty five couples were included in the study. The mean dietary intake of vitamin D was low, but not significantly different between men and women. Vitamin D level was <50 nmol/L in 209 [64.3%] men and 292 [89.8%] women. The mean 25[OH]D level in males [46.06 +/- 12.97 nmol/L] was significantly higher than females [33.12 +/- 13.48 nmol/L]. There was a significant association between dietary intake and 25[OH]D levels in both men and women. Sun exposure was also found to be significantly associated with 25[OH]D level in males but not in females which is attributed to the use of veil. Low vitamin D intake and inadequate sun exposure lead to hypovitaminosis D. There is a need to increase awareness and mandate the fortification of milk, dairy products and to supplement veiled women and those at risk of deficiency with vitamin D

Body mass index among healthcare workers

To evaluate body mass index [BMI] among healthcare workers in Bahrain. Cross sectional study. Occupational Health Clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Public Health Directorate, Naim Health Center and the Psychiatric Hospital. Between 2009 and 2012 a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst 644 healthcare workers. Height and weight recorded during periodical medical examination of employees were used to calculate the body mass index using weight in kilogram divided by height in meter squared. Self-administered questionnaire was used for personal characteristics. Six hundred forty-four healthcare workers were included in the study, 391 males and 253 females. The median age of the males was 43 years and the females was 38 years. Two hundred seventy-eight [43.2%] were between 34-44 years. One hundred ninety-six [30.4%] healthcare workers were under/normal weight; 266 [41.3%] were overweight, 182 [28.3%] were obese. The mean BMI of males was 27.5 and females was 28.5. One hundred seventeen [29.9%] males and 79 [31.2%] females were under/normal weight. One hundred seventy-two [44%] males and 94 [37.2%] females were overweight. One hundred two [26.1%] males and 80 [31.6%] females were obese. This study revealed high prevalence of obesity among healthcare workers

Overuse of cesarean delivery at Al-Saudi Hospital, Hajjah, Yemen

The prevalence of cesarean section delivery continues to rise in most of the settings including the developing countries. Different indications for cesarean delivery might be responsible for this rise. The study was conducted during one year period of first May 2012 through 30 of April 2013 at Al-Saudi Hospital in Hajjah city, Yemen to investigate incidence, indications and type of cesarean delivery. The medical files were reviewed and medical and obstetrics data were retrieved from the files [age, parity, education, and mode of delivery]. Out of 1728 deliveries, 1211 [70%] were vaginal [include 1.3% instrumental deliveries] and 517 [30%] were cesarean deliveries. The vast majority of the cesarean deliveries were emergency ones [410; 79.3%]. The different indications of cesarean deliveries were; hypertensive disorder of pregnancy [27.1%]; repeated cesareans [22.8%], antepartum hemorrhage [14.5%], obstructed labor [10.6%], cephalopelvic disproportion [10.6%], bad obstetric history [1.4%], others [2.5%] and combined indications [5%]. There is a high incidence of cesarean deliveries in this setting. Measures have to be taken [increase instrumental delivery, trial of labour and trial of scar] to reduce this high incidence of cesarean deliveries

Prevalence of ear infection in Al-Mukalla city Yemen

Ear infection is a common health problem among patients attending primary health care clinic and otitis media is the most common of those diseases

Aim: to determine the ear infection among randomly selected people in Al-Mukalla city-Yemen

Methods: prospective study is performed from February to April 2002 on 300 persons. The method of data collection depends on face to face interview and information was collected regarding social and history of ear infection

Results: the majority of cases were males [80%] and their age was between 21-25 years. The occupation of them was students [124] followed by free jobs [99]. One hundred and eighty cases represent the urban area. The educational levels of the participants. 96 cases were within the University stage while 83 were with primary school level. The relation between ear infection and the residence area shows that 58% and 55% of urban and rural areas respectively had ear infection. Most of those with ear infection were the students [60.47%]. The high participants of the age groups of 11-15 years were complaining from ear infection [78%]. Regarding the relation with educational level it was found that those with primary level give high value [67.47%]. The relation between sex and presence of infection was high in females [63%]. Most of the type of pain was intermittent [62%], while sounds show the majority of affected ears [88%]. The majority was with no discharge [68%]

Conclusion: the majority cases with ear infection within the young male of age group of 11-15 years. There are several factors associated with presence of ear infection, scug age, occupational status, residency, and educational level. The study also included that some infections were with discharge pain and sounds