Injection safety at primary health care level in south-western Saudi Arabia

In a study of injection safety in Abha health district, Saudi Arabia, data were collected from 47 physicians and 85 nurses at 24 primary health care centres, using an observation checklist and an interview questionnaire. All centres used individually packed disposable syringes and puncture-proof containers to collect used needles. Needlestick injury in the previous year was reported by 14.9% of physicians and 16.5% of nurses [0.21 and 0.38 injuries/person/year respectively]. Logistic regression analysis identified recapping the needle after use [physicians and nurses] and bending the needle before disposal [physicians] as significant risk factors for injury

Altitude and bronchial asthma in south-western Saudi Arabia

Through a house-to-house survey, 1325 people aged 11+ years registered at 2 primary health care centres [1 at high altitude and 1 at sea level] in Asir region, Saudi Arabia, were interviewed and examined for weight, height and peak expiratory flow rate. The prevalence of bronchial asthma at sea level [19.5%] was significantly higher than at high altitude [6.9%]. Illiteracy, low income, use of coal and wood for heating, having a mud or tent house, lack of electricity inside dwellings and presence of sheep were also significant risk factors for bronchial asthma. In multivariate logistic regression, only altitude was found to be significantly associated with bronchial asthma [adjusted odds ratio = 3.94]

Primary health care emergency services in Abha district of southwestern Saudi Arabia

To study emergency services delivery in all 30 primary health care centres in Abha district of Asir region, Saudi Arabia, data were collected about equipment and facilities, physicians' practices and attitudes, and patients' utilization of and satisfaction with emergency services. Two centres had no devoted place for emergency services. Lack of some essential equipment and drugs was evident. The greatest continuing medical education need for doctors was the management of cardiovascular emergencies [72.3%]. Many doctors [40.4%] did not consider the majority of cases as true emergencies. Many patients [43.7%] used the centres for emergency services, the most common being trauma, burns and orthopaedics [47.8%]. Most patients were satisfied overall with emergency services [82.2%]

Diagnositic accuracy of serum creatine kinase in predicting tubal rupture in ectopic pregnancy

To study the accuracy of creatine kinase in diagnosing tubal rupture in cases of ectopic pregnancy. Methods: a cross sectional study was conducted in the University of Am Shams Egypt, between 2003 and 2004. It included a consecutive series of 40 women with tubal ectopic pregnancy and a matched control group of 40 women with normal pregnancy. Creatine kinase and beta-hCG levels were measured on admission. At laparotomy or laparoscopy, the tube affected was assessed [whether ruptured or unruptured and the anatomical location of the pregnancy in the tube]. There were ruptured ampullary 16 cases [40,.0%], Ruptured lsthmic 5 cases [12.5%], Unruptured Ampullary 17 cases [42.5%], and Unruptured lsthmic 2 cases [5.0%]. The serum CK [units/L] was 97.9 +/- 44.2 in ruptured tubal pregnancy, 85.3 +/- 40.5 in unruptured tubal pregnancy and 84.1 +/- 26.3 in the normal control group. There was not a statistical significant difference in the level of CK between the 3 groups using ANOVA test [P = 0.329]. There was a positive correlation between gestational age and creatine kinase levels in ruptured ectopic pregnancy [Pearson correlation 0.625, P= 0.002]. A subgroup analysis was performed for the level of CK in Ruptured Ampullary, Ruptured Isthmic, Unruptured Ampullary, and Unruptured lsthmic pregnancy as well as the Control group. There was not a statistically significant difference between the 5 groups using ANOVA test [P = 0.537]. The area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve was 0.587 [standard error 0.083]. A cutoff value of 125.5 U/L has a specificity of 98.3 1%, a sensitivity of 14.29%, positive likelihood ratio of 8.4, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.9. When analysis was limited to women with tubal pregnancy, the likelihood ratio dropped to 2.7 for a positive test using the same cutoff value. Creatine kinase is rot a useful test in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and is not useful test in the prediction of tubal rupture

Epidemiological relation between illnesses and injury occurrence among industrial workers in Alexandria

He present study followed the 6 monthly reports of illnesses and accidents issued from 925 companies in Alexandria from the year 1990 to the end of 1994. The aim of this work is to test the presence of a relationship between illnesses and injury occurrence in different types of industries. The involved companies were categorized according to their main activity into 5 types: spinning and weaving, chemical, engineering, food processing and service companies. The illnesses were divided into acute [less than 7 days sick leave] and chronic illnesses. Simple and multiple regression analyses were utilized involving the frequency and severity of injuries as dependent factors and the number of workers, the frequency and severity of both acute and chronic diseases as independent factors. Results indicated that large companies showed a significantly higher frequency and severity of occupational injuries [P<0.001]. This holds true for all types of industries except the engineering category. All regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between frequency and severity of injuries and each of the number of workers, frequency and severity of acute and chronic illnesses. Stepwise regression showed that frequency of acute illnesses is the most important predictor of frequency of injuries while number of workers is the first predictor of severity of injuries. This can be useful as a preliminary tool for locating weak points in the preventive strategy to be adopted in different industries

Cervical spondylosis among maintenance workers of the aerial electrical network in Alexandria city: an ergonomic study

Workers engaged in repairing and maintenance activities of the aerial electrical network are usually working in unfavourable conditions: work stress, extreme body postures, harsh climate, electrical hazards, etc. This study had the dual aim of revealing the health status of those high risk workers, as well as analysis of extreme body postures and movements encountered during their work in order to stimulate efforts to improve their work conditions. Interviews of 173 workers representing the maintenance teams of all districts of Alexandria, followed by fasting sugar, blood pressure measurements and a cervical x-ray were performed. Workers were divided into 3 groups according to their use of different equipments. The comparison group [n=46] consisted of the auxiliary personnel and the truck drivers. The group of workers using the stretchable ladder [n=67] exhibited significantly higher prevalence of vertigo during work, more neck pain and higher prevalence of cervical spondylosis [22.4%]. The lifted box group of workers [n=58] showed significantly higher prevalence of back pain and a lower prevalence of cervical spondylosis [10.3%]. An ergonomic analysis of work posture consisted of examining 5 different repair sessions for each involved group. The mean percent and number of times of neck flexion and extension in the sagittal plane were recorded using a hand tally and a stop watch. Neck extension was predominant significantly in workers using the stretchable ladder. Further, it was noticed that the main posture of work puts the cervical spine in extension relative to the inclined worker's body on the ladder. Neck flexion, on the other hand, dominated in the lifted box group of workers. Repeated and prolonged neck extension might be a causal factor of cervical spine affections. Better equipment and modified repairing processes are highly recommended

Respiratory problems among diabetic cotton textile workers

This cross sectinol study involved 400 male workers selected from one of the cotton textile factories in Alexandria in a trial to study the effects of exposure to cotton dust on the respiratory system of exposed diabetic workers. All the participants were subjected to a special questionnaire and comprehensive clinical examination with special emphasis on respiratory system. Laboratory investigations included fasting blood sugar and pulmonary function measurements for all subjects. The selected pulmonary function indices were forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV[1.0]] maximum mid expiratiory flow rate [MMFR[25-75]] and maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV]. Results denoted that diabetic workers showed significantly higher prevalence of some respiratory diseases e.g. byssinosis, chest infection, chronic bronchitis and TB than non diabetics. Moreover, diabetic workers showed lower values of the measured pulmonary function indices than non diabetics