Risky road-use behaviour among students at the University of Benha, Egypt

Road traffic injuries constitute 45% of deaths due to injury in Egypt. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify and investigate risky behaviours regarding road use among university students in Benha. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 953 students. Of the respondents 19.3% reported not complying with pedestrian road traffic safety rules, while among drivers, 39.4% had no driving licence, 44.5% did not use a seat-belt and 63.5% exceeded the legal speed limits. In binary logistic regression analysis, substance use [OR 18.3; 95% CI: 9.10-23.3] and having peers with similar behaviours [OR 2.53; 96% CI: 1.15-5.55] were significant predictors of not following road traffic safety rules as a pedestrian. Exceeding the legal traffic speed limits as a driver was significantly associated with male sex [OR 5.13; 95% CI: 1.98-13.3], peer pressure [OR 8.70; 95% CI: 3.90-17.1] and substance use [OR 3.30; 95% CI: 1.58-13.7]. Unsafe road-use behaviours that may cause unintentional injuries are prevalent among University of Benha students. Health education sessions and training courses for students on appropriate road behaviours may be warranted

Assessment of the pattern and severity grading of acute poisoning in children admitted to Alexandria Poison Center

The present work aimed to study the pattern and severity grading of acute poisning among children. The study included all children less than 15 years [n=1072] who were admitted to Alexandria Poison Center [APC] at Alexandria Main University Hospital during six months period [Julyy - December 2000]. Children less than 5 years accounted for 62.8% of the total children where toddlers were the most vulnerable. Early adolescents 10 < 15 years constituted 26.1%, where grils significantly exceeded boys. Children with low and moderate socioeconomic levels represented 64.0% and 20.1% respectively. Accidental poisoning accounted for the majority of children [81.5%]; all of them were less than 5 years. Attempted suicide represented 17.9%, while overdose by addicting drugs constituted 0.6%, all were boys and 10 < 15 years. Non-drug poisoning represented 74.3%, while poisoning by drugs accounted for 17.5%. Carbon monoxide poisoning, animal poisons [snakes and scorpions] and plant poisoning constituted 6.7%, 1.2% and 0.3% respectively. Accordding to multicenter Study of Poisoning in Children [MSPC] score, the study revealed that children with score 0 [asymptomatic] represented 26.2%, those with scores 1 and 2 [mild and moderate] constituted 37.3% and 32.0% respectively, while scores 3 and 4 i.e. severe and very severe poisoning accounted for 3.9% and 0.7% respectively. It was noticed that the MSPC Severity Score goes hand in hand with Matthew and Lawson scale [M and L scale], where severe grades of coma by M and L scale i.e grades 3 and 4 have moderate, severe and very severe poisoning by MSPC Score

Sepsis following premature rupture of membranes in Minoufiya neonatal intensive care unit

Premature rupture of amniotic membranes [PROM] is one of the serious complications of pregnancy, a relationship exists between prolonged PROM, chonoamnionitis and neonatal sepsis. The purpose of the present work was to identify percentage and risk factors for neonatal sepsis following PROM and to study the relationship between bacterial flora of women in labor [with and without rupture of membranes] and the results of blood culture of their septic neonates. Our study was carried on 100 neonates and their mothers. High vaginal, endocervical and anorectal swabs for bacterial culture were done to all mothers with or without PROM. Neonates were examined and investigated for sepsis diagnosis, in the first 72 hours after delivery. The incidence of neonatal sepsis following PROM in the present work was 25%. The most commonly isolated organism from the septic neonates was E-coli followed by Klebsiella while the least common organisms were Enterobacter and Diphteroid. The surface swabs of the babies matched with blood culture for the neonates irrespective of the condition of fetal membranes with no significant difference between neonates with PROM and without PROM. The mother lower genital tract swabs matched with blood cultured from the neonates with a significant difference between cases with PROM and without PROM. Prematurity was the major risk factor for early onset neonatal sepsis following PROM in our study. The mortality rates in septic neonates with PROM was 60% while that of neonates with sepsis without PROM was 37.5%. The prolonged duration of PROM offers time for the ascent of bacteria resulting in early onset neonatal sepsis especially in the presence of other risk factors for neonatal sepsis such as, prematurity and low apgar score. And the bacteria found in blood cultures of neonates with early onset sepsis following PROM are usually the same that found in the genital tract of their mothers

Antenatal magnesium sulfate therapy: is there a possible neuroprotective role in preterm neonates? a prospective controlled study

This controlled randomized comparative study was conducted to analyze the association between antenatal MgSO4 administration and the risk of intraventricullar haemorrhage [IVH] as well as periventricular leucomalacia [PVL] In preterm neonates. Study design: The study comprised a total of 97 parturients with preterm labour and gestations varied between 28 to 35 weeks. They were therapeutically categorized according to the tocolytic used into group I [who received MgSO4, n= 53] and group II [who received ritodrine, n = 44]. Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been described. After birth, the neonates of both groups have been subjected to trans-anterior fontanelle neurosonographic examination. The two groups have been compared for the incidence and grade of severity of abnormal neunosonographic findings with respect to neonatal IVH and PVL. Abnormal neurosonograms were demonstrated in eleven of neonates of group I [20.8%] versus sixteen of the neonates of group II [36.4%]. Out of these, two of the neonates of group I [3.8%] and seven of group II [15.9%] have shown severe abnormality according to papile's criteria. The difference in these neurosonographic abnormalities between the 2 groups has been found to be statistically significant [p < 0.05]. There has been no statistically significant difference between serum Mg level as well as the duration of use of MgSO4 and the occurrence of neurosonographic abnormalities. When logistic regression analysis was utilized and after adjustment for the potential variables, the adjusted odds ratio [OR] was 0.9 and the corresponding confidence interval [CI] = 0.6 - 1.1 when group I was compared to group II. This difference has not been found to be statistically significant [p > 0.05]. After adjustment for the potential confounders, the incidence as well as the severity of IVH and PVL in MgSO4 group has not been found to be statistically different from the ritodrine group. These findings provide a strong support for the hypothesis that MgSO4 therapy could not play an independent cerbroventrscular protective role in preterm neonates

Study of occurence of nephropathy among farmers exposed to pesticides in rice agriculture in egypt

This work aimed at studying the effect of exposure to a pesticide [Fu radan] used in. rice agriculture in Egypt, on renal junctions for the purpose of detection of nephropathy. The prospective study was carried out during the season of the year 1996 and comprised 189 rural males free from any renal impairment or other illnesses leading to renal affection, out of which 92 farmers were exposed to the pesticide and 97 controls. The results revealed development of microalbuminuria in 28.26% of the exposed farmers compared to none of the other group with a statistically significant difference [P<0.01]. Urinary alkaline phosphatase became significantly higher among the exposed than the other group [19.95 +/- 14.38 and 4.83 +/- 1.94 U/24 hours respectively]. Also, serum creatinine was elevated among the first group after exposure to the pesticide [1.06 +/- 0.16 mg/ dl] to be significantly higher than among the second group [0.83 +/- 0.14 mg/dl] [P<0.01]. Although the values of urinary alkaline phosphatase and serum creatinine among the exposed farmers by the end of the study were still within the normal range yet their values increased significantly after exposure to the pesticide [P<0.01]. In conclusion, exposure of the agricultural workers to this pesticide was found to affect both glomerular and tubular renal functions. Hence, we should stress on rural community awareness about the ways of exposure and the hazards of pesticides: training of Egyptian farmers about the appropriate use of personal protective equipment and personal hygiene. Further studies are recommended to show the persistence of renal affection among the exposed farmers

End stage renal disease in Kalyoubia governorate, an epidemiological study

This work was designed to study the epidemiological aspects of end stage renal disease [ESRD] in Kalyoubja Governorate. All attendants of the four dialysis centers providing the service in the locality, during the period from November 1994 till February 1996, were the target group for this study [210 patients]. The results of this study revealed that the majority of patients [81.9%] were males and 73.8% were rural residents A higher percentage of the studied cases [62.4%] aged 45 years or more. However, females were found to have the disease more frequently at a younger age [< 45 years]. About two thirds of males [63.4%] were manual and skilled workers while 79.0% of females were housewives Disease duration was found to be significantly higher among males than females [4.1 +/- 2.4 and 2.9 +/- 1.9 years respectively] Subsequently haemodialysis duration was significantly higher among males [P < 0.05]. Tubulo-interstitial and metabolic diseases [D.M., obstructive uropathy, mediteranean fever gout and iatrogenic nephropathies] were the etiological factor in 31.0% of the studied patients. Vascular diseases [hypertension and collagen diseases] caused 16.2%, of cases, 9lomerulopathy [glomerulonephritis and bilharziasis] was responsible for 29.0%, congenital diseases 4.3% while 19.5%of cases resulted from unknown etiology. Hypertension was found to be significantly related to the etiology of ESRD while socio-demographic factors were not significantly related, Hence. Early detection, control of infections and chronic conditions predisposing to renal diseases together with regulation of drug use are recommended

Acute ophthalmological problems among patients attending Benha University Hospital

Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or emergency room in Benha University Hospital during the last three months of the year 1994 were studied. Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest in the previous three categories [40.2%. 35.8% and 48.6% respectively]. Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children [76.7%], rural residents [42.5%] and non-educated patients [42.0%]. Ocular trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of [1.6: 1]. It occurred mainly in childhood [48.4%] and in manual and skilled workers [48.6%]. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in childhood [52.2%] while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults [42.9%]. Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or general health services accounted for the remainder [11.7% and 7.6% respectively]. Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and 26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular Inflammations [81.5%] received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient [45.3%] or inpatient [28.4%]. Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in outpatient [63.9%] or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical management [29.2% and 6.9% respectively]. Residents managed most cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone [87.6% and 85.2% respectively], while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous cases [31.9%].Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended. Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is essential to maintain effective services

KAP study of family planning among married rural females in kalyobia Governorate

This work was conducted on attendants of a rural health unit in El-Shokre Village, Kalyobia governorate. Three hundreds and twenty married women in the child bearing period were the target sample. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] of married rural women towards family planning in kalyobia governorate. This research showed that 92.1% of contraceptive users aged 25 years or more compared to 75.0% of the non-users. Illiteracy was significantly prevalent among non-users who were mainly not working and bearing more number of children than contraceptive users. The most popular and practiced contraceptive methods were intrauterine device and contraceptive pills. A significant gap was also found between users and non-users regarding their opinion about the ideal number of children and the ideal interconceptional period where non-users preferred more number of children as well as shorter period [P < 0.05]. Mass media was found to be an effective source of knowledge among users than nonusers [72.6% and 39.3% respectively] while neighbours and relatives had a significant effect on the group of non-users than contraceptive users [P < 0.05]. The findings pointed to the minimal effect of rural health unit as a source of knowledge to the studied women. The study showed that interpregnancy spacing and having enough number of children were the main causes of acceptance of contraception among users. The results also, revealed satisfaction of contraceptive users where the discontinuation rate was 18.5%. The prominent reason for discontinuation was the desire to get more children while the main cause of rejection, given by non-users, was related to health factors and fear of side effects [57.2%]. The researchers stress on the importance of health education program, integrated with the other activities of primary health care units, to provide illiterate rural inhabitants with the correct knowledge about family planning as well as the effectiveness and safety of the contraceptive methods in order to creat a favourable attitude and practice

Compliance of mothers with immunization services in an Egyptian rural area

A cross-sectional study was carried out by interviewing 337 mothers, having children aged 9-24 months, from an Egyptian village to examine their compliance with immunization of their children as an important factor in determination of immunization coverage. This work revealed that 85.8% of the studied mothers were compliant with immunization. Mothers of young age, with higher education and who were employees as well as whose husbands were of high educational and occupational levels were found to have significantly higher compliance rates than others. Mothers were found to have a higher rate of non-compliance when they had children of female sex and of higher birth order. The majority [94.1%] of the compliant mothers immunized their children for protection against infectious diseases while 4.5% of them imitated other people and only 1.4% [mostly noneducated] to avoid punishment. Non-compliant mothers attributed their failure to follow the immunization schedule of children to various reasons such as unsuitable system of work [43.7%], far distance of the local rural health unit [25.0%] or due to false perception of the need of their children for immunization [16.7%]