Assessment of quality of life among hepatitis C patients hospital based study

This study assessed the quality of life [QOL] and factors impaired among 165 HCV patients admitted to Zagazig University Hospitals. Data were collected via a questionnaire included the patients' socio demographic characteristics, medical history about HCV infection. A standard short form 36 questionnaire [SF36] was used to assess their quality of life. The results showed that all QOL domains were reduced, the most affected domain was the role limitation attributed to physical problems [88.5%], while the least affected one was the mental health domain [26.7%]. The study revealed that the patients' age negatively affected 3 domains [fatigue and tiredness, mental health and perception of pain]. The workers and male patients were affected in 3 domains [physical functioning, role limitation attributed to emotional problems and perception of pain] than others. QOL of highly educated patients were more impaired in physical functioning and role limitation attributed to physical and emotional problems. The patients with insufficient income recorded lower score in mental health domain only. The majority [78.8%] of the patients had bad QOL

Spot lights on the demographic profile of Egypt

Demographic studies are important in diagnosis of population characteristics, distribution and growth over time, which are used in planning and community development. To analyze data in the recent population census in comparison to previous data to assess strengths, weakness and opportunities, threats in the demographic status of Egypt. Collection, presentation and analysis of recorded data from many documented national and international resources. Population number increased by 22% from 1986 to 1996 and 18.03% from 1996 to 2006. The rate of natural increase decreased from 2.88 to 1.91%. The crude birth rate decreased from 38 to 25.5/1000. The crude death rate decreased from 9.2 to 6.38/10000 through 20 years. There was high decrease in age specific mortality rates in infants to reach 26.2/1000, below 5 years children mortality reached 20.5/1000 and maternal deaths became 84/100000 through the last 20 years. Consequently, there is an increase in life expectancy for both males [69.2 years] and females [73.6 years]. The age dependency ratio is 38%, illiteracy 29.3% and unemployment percentage 10.7% in last 10 years in Egypt. The total expenditure on health is decreasing from 3.7 in 202 to 3.09% in 2006. In 2004, 3% of population suffered from malnutrition, low birth weight infants were 12%. 9% of children below 5 years were under weight. Iron deficiency anemia in females was 24% and the percentage of handicapped was 0.06%. The recorded percentages for infrastructure facilities are 100% of health services coverage to whole Egypt, electricity coverage 99%, 95.5% for safe water supply while sanitary sewage disposal reached 82.5% in urban areas, 24.3% in rural areas in 2006. 9.4% of the population live in 916 slum areas, 43% of population have income less than 2 $ daily which is below poverty line. Over population is still a serious national problem that has adverse effects on all aspects of Egyptian's life. This problem needs all efforts, it should be faced by governmental and non governmental agencies. Education of youth to adopt small family concept, encourage women education and engagement in work, economic development in all aspects are suggested solutions. Human resources can be used in new industries, cultivation of new lands, education of illiterates. Encourage migration. In the health sector, continuous education and training of physicians. Taking more care to the preventive aspects and community health. Decentralization of demographic studies on the governmental level with continuous improvement of plans to cope with population changes in each area

Health work force in Egypt

Egypt has a long history in health care and medical practice that stems from the Pharonic and Arab heritage. Throughout the last decades, the country has achieved impressive improvements both in health indicators and health care provision. Health care system has established an extensive network of primary health care units covering the entire population. However, Ministry of health and population, MOHP, is facing the challenges of maintaining these improvements and executing more improvements for providing high quality health care [1]. One milestone for health planning is human resources. It is recommended to have adequate quantity and quality of different health team members. Balanced distribution of different specialties allover the country to attain equity in health care. This study will focus on physician's number in the past years till now to suggest our needs of doctors in the future. From the previous information we deduce that there was high discrepancy in data. The first step to plan for work force in Egypt is to get accurate data base. Ministry of health and population should prepare survey study to calculate the number of physicians [and other health team workers] in service. The number of physicians having postgraduate certificates in the different specialties. Distribution of physicians in the different governments by specialty. The second step after this situational analysis is to analyze these data to know the number needed of physicians, the needed specialties, the ideal distribution of physicians in the different governments to assure equity of service. The future needs-of physicians can be calculated in relation to the expected number of population increase. This number of physicians needed in the future will be the guide for the number of students to be admitted to faculties of Medicine and a guide for postgraduate planning. The quantity of physicians is not the only indicator for the health service effectiveness, the quality of physicians is also important. In some countries as Israel, Sweden [in table 4] the number of physicians to 10000 of population is very high in comparison to Egypt [nearly 7 folds] but the question is [can we solve our health problems by only increasing the number of doctors?] we think assuring quality is more important than increasing quantity