Knowledge, attitudes and intended behaviours towards HIV testing and self-protection: a survey of Omani pregnant women

Routine HIV testing of all pregnant women in Oman has been introduced without prior knowledge of women's attitudes towards testing or their behaviour in the event of a positive test. This study recruited 1000 Omani pregnant women from antenatal clinics to explore their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, attitudes towards HIV testing and intended behaviours in the event of a positive test. Mother-to-child transmission was recognized by 86.6% of the women but only 21.0% knew that it was preventable and a few acknowledged the important role of antiviral drugs. Half of the women [51.9%] reported having been tested for HIV and 75.8% agreed about routine HIV testing for all pregnant women. A higher level of knowledge was significantly associated with a favourable intended behaviour related to voluntary testing, disclosure and seeking professional assistance in the event of a positive HIV test. The results are discussed in relation to opt-in and opt-out approaches to voluntary testing during pregnancy

Serum calcium level as a marker of pregnancy-induced hypertension

Regulation of intracellular calcium plays a key role in hypertension. Hypertension has been estimated to complicate 5% of all pregnancies and 11% of first pregnancies. Half of the pregnant women with hypertension have pre-eclampsia. Hypertensive disorders account for up to 40 000 maternal deaths annually. To compare total serum calcium levels in pregnant women complicated with pre-eclampsia with those in normotensive control. This is a case-control hospital based study carried out at Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, and Khartoum North Teaching Hospital in Khartoum State, Sudan in the period from October 2006 to June 2007. One hundred thirty-five women were enrolled in this study. 90 women with pregnancy - induced hypertension [PIH] admitted after 20[th] week of pregnancy represented the study group. Forty five women with normal pregnancy, at same age; same gestational age were selected as control group. The mean [ +/- SD] serum calcium of the study group was 8.38 +/- 1.04 mg/dl, while that of the control group was 9.04 +/- 1.13mg/dl [P= 0.001]. Low level of maternal total calcium may have a role in the development PIH. Therefore calcium consumption in pregnancy should be encouraged. Calcium supplement is recommended for women who live in places of low socioeconomic status as well as for women who prefer to skip milk and milk products due to personal preference

Antibodies against rickettsia in humans and potential vector ticks from dhofar, Oman

Objective - To determine the extent of rickettsial infections prevalence of potential vector ticks in the rural population of Dhofar, Oman. Method - Human sera [n = 347] were obtained from six rural localities [school children, farmers, outpatients] in Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. Sera were tested by immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies reacting with Rickettsia conorii antigen. Results - More than half the samples [59%] gave positive reactions [titres of at least 1:64]. Ticks [n=707] were collected from cattle, camels and goats [n=102] and included Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma a. anatolicum, H. dromedarii, H. rufipes and Rhipicephalus spp., all of which can potentially transmit rickettsiae to humans. Conclusion - The results suggest that rickettsial infections are common among the rural population of Dhofar

Hookworms and other human intestinal parasites in Dhofar

A parasitological survey was carried out in 5 localities in the mountains of Dhofar [south of Oman]. Using direct microscopy 480 stool specimens were examined, out of which 122 [25%] were found to be infected. Among the positives, a single parasite species was detected in 116 [24%] while the remaining 6 samples [1%] represented double infections. Six species of parasites were observed: hookworms in 17% of the stool specimens, Giardia lamblia 6%, strongloides stercoralis [3%], Entamoeba histolytica [0.4%],E. coli [0.4%] and Endolimax nana [0.2%]. The highest overall prwvalence of parasitic infections was observed in madinat al-Haq [56%], followed by Dhalqut [35%], sudh [12%],and lastly Tawiattair [4%]. Hookworms had a high prevalence [35.9%] in Madinat Al-Haq and Dhalqut, while this parasite was not detected in Sudh and Tawiattair

Changing patterns of intestinal parasitic infections among school children, outpatients and food handlers in Salalah, Dhofor [1981-1989]

During the study period, over 50.000 individuals were screened and 11 parasites were encountered. of these, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia and Trichuris trichiura were the most prevalent species. The ptevalence of infections had deopped sharply among the outpatients from 41.7% in 1982 to 9.8% in 1984 then increased to 18.1% and decreased to 12.7% in 1985 and 1986 respectively. The prevalence of enteric infections among food handlers had its peak [24.0%] in 1982 and then decreased graduslly to 10.8% in 1986. intestinal parasitic infections among school children prevailed and fluctuated within a low narrow range of 2.9% during the period 1981 to 1989