Self medication and care among university students, Assiut, Egypt, 1996

This cross sectional study was carried out among university students. It included 575 students. Their ages ranged from 17-25 years. Results showed that 215 and 360 students were from urban and rural localities, respectively. As regards the source of medical consultation, 380 of the studied students took care of themselves; while 150, 36, 7 and 2 consulted physicians, pharmacists, health workers and traditional healers, respectively. The most common drugs used by the students are antitussives and expectorants p 29.6% while the least drugs used by the students were antibiotics and laxatives [1.2% and 0.6%, respectively]. Regarding the source of drug prescription, 198 of the students used drugs prescribed by physicians, 74 [21.9%] self medicated, 63 bought drugs prescribed by pharmacists, while 2[0.6%] and 1[0.3%] used drugs prescribed by traditional healers and health workers. Also, 569 of the students read the enclosed pamphlets

Epidemiology of left handedness and the associated health probiems in prematurely born children

Hand preference was measured in a total group of 294 premature children to determine patterns of hand preference at ages 4 - 10 years and the possible associated health problems with left handedness. The overall prevalence of left handedness was 10.5%, while 6.5% and 4.1% were left leg preferable and suffering from squint. The prevalence in male children was 12.6% versus 8.6% in females [RR = 1.47] and the prevalence decreased with increasing age. Among the left handed children 29% were of low birth weight. Also, 6.5%, 3.2% and 28.8% fathers, mothers and siblings of the left handers were left handers. As regards the associated diseases, 35.5% of the left handed children were suffering from diseases versus 18.6% from right handed children. No association between left handedness and weight, height, head circumference, mid arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness was found. In conclusion, a great attention and care must be given to children born prematurely. Also, nutritional and health education programs concerning importance of antenatal, natal and post-natal care must be directed towards women, especially those of low socioeconomic levels

Water contact pattern and urinary schistosomiasis infection in Assiut

This field work was carried out in El-Tawabya Village, Assiut and included 3072 persons aged > 4 years. The highest infection rate was found among the age group 10-14 years [17.5%]. Irrigation and playing in canal water were the most frequent water contacts [29.0% and 30.4%]. Schistosomiasis infection rates for different contacts were more among persons who practiced activities than those who did not. Also, schistosomiasis infection rates were more among persons aged < 20 years more than 20+ years. Regarding time of contract with canal water, the highest rates of infection were recorded among those who were used water at mid-day [16.8%], followed by at any time [13.9%]and before noon [13.6%]. The logic regression of different factors influencing schistosomiasis infection showed that the most important factors were age, practice of agriculture, very low socio-economic status, bathing in canal water and washing animals