Health education program for mothers of children suffering from iron deficiency anemia in United Arab Emirates

The present study was designed to assess knowledge, beliefs and practices of mothers regarding factors leading to iron deficiency anemia among children, to develop a health education [HE] program according to the needs of the target group, to determine the effect of the program in terms of changes in mothers' knowledge, practices and beliefs using Health Belief Model [HBM], and to determine the hemoglobin and hematocrite levels of the children of the target group before and after the program. The sample size was 200 anemic children aged 6-24 months and their mothers, 100 of them were randomly assigned to face to face intervention program [experimental group] [I], the other 100 were the control group [II]. Only 16% of mothers of group I and 18% of mothers of group II got satisfactory level of knowledge. After the conduction of HE program, the mothers' knowledge was significantly increased among group I, while almost there was no change of the knowledge's level among group II. Only 7% of mothers of group I and 27% of those of group II had high perceived severity. Only 8% of mothers of group I and 14% of those of group II had low perceived barriers. After the program, 58% of mothers in group I got low perceived barriers. Only 28% of mothers of group I and 21% of those of group II had good dietary practice. After the program, 74% of mothers in group I showed good dietary practice. There were highly significant increases in the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrite of children of group I after the program, while the increases were not significant in group II

Knowledge, perceptions and practices of mothers regarding care of preschool children's teeth [Part I]

Early childhood caries is of epidemic proportions in many developing countries. A recent study, done in Alexandria, showed that more than half the children in age group 2-5 years had caries. The present study was designed to assess preschool children preventive dental practices and factors affecting these practices. Accordingly, a cross- sectional study was carried out at two MCH centers affiliated to the Directorate of Health Affaires in Alexandria. From each MCH center 100 mothers of preschool children were selected randomly to form a total of 200. A pre-designed questionnaire included: socio-demographic data and items to assess mothers' knowledge, perceptions and practices related to childhood dental caries. Analysis of results revealed that only 39.5% of mothers indicated that brushing of children teeth should start as early as 2 years and only 41.1% of them mentioned that the child should use tooth brush three times daily. Only 8.5% of mothers attained good knowledge score regarding childhood dental caries while about one third of them had poor knowledge. About two fifths of the mothers were not practicing tooth brushing for their children. Only one third of them used to brush their children teeth more than once daily. Two thirds of the mothers never took their children for dental check up. More than two thirds of them [69%] mentioned that their children consume excess sweets, 42% of them mentioned that their children eat vegetables and fruit more than once daily. After controlling for confounding, using Stepwise Multiple Logistic Regression, tooth brushing was significantly associated with higher mothers' perception of benefit of brushing, increased child age, higher mothers' perception of seriousness of dental caries and higher mothers' perception of barrier that the child still young [OR = 6.7, 5.9, 3.5, 4.2, P<0.01 respectively]. Also dental check up was significantly associated with higher mothers' perception of benefit of check up, increased mothers' educational level, increased mothers' knowledge score [regarding childhood dental caries], higher mothers' perception of benefit of treatment and their higher perception seriousness of dental caries [OR = 4.9, 3.2, 6.6, 2.4, 2.1 respectively]. Health education program should be done especially for mothers of preschool children to improve their knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding childhood dental caries

Study of opinion and level of knowledge about AIDS problem among secondary school students and teachers in Alexandria

The level of knowledge and the opinion about HIV/AIDS problem of 571 students [179 females, 392 males] and 211 teachers [85 females, 126 males] were assessed using an interview - questionnaire .The results explored the little priority given to sex education in Egyptian schools in addition to the very minor role of schools as source of knowledge [about AIDS problem] for students and teachers who revealed much interest towards the problem and wanted to know more about it, reflecting the need for urgent organized health educational programme

Measuring job satisfaction among hospital nurses: some methodological issues

The present study was undertaken to compare between the various methods that have been used to measure the job satisfaction of nurses. Five different measures were developed: a global measure, an unweighted direct facet-specific measure, an unweighted indirect facet-specific measure, a weighted direct facet-specific measure, and a weighted indirect facet-specific measure. Using the interviewing method, the scaIes constructed to calculate these measures were administered to 91 nurses employed at one of the general hospitals that belong to the Ministry of Public Health in Alexandria. Results indicated that all the ten job facets were rated as very important by the greater proportion of respondents. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between the total score of all five measures of satisfaction; however the correlation was strong between the weighted and unweighted direct measure, and between the weighted and unweighted indirect measure, but was intermediate between all the remaining measures. Comparison between ratings of satisfaction with ten specific job facets, as measured by the direct and indirect methods, revealed a statistically significant difference for nine facets. Mostly, a more favourable attitude was expressed by the direct method. The accuracy of the available methods of measurement of job satisfaction, and the value of incorporating the degree of importance of job facets in facet-specific measures were questioned. The need for further research in this area was emphasized

Health care aspects provided by mothers for their primary school children

The mother plays a vital role in caring for her school aged child. She carries the major responsibility for his physical, social and mental care. The aim of this study was to assess some of the health care aspects provided by mothers to their primary school children. The study included 328 students from grade six in primary schools in Alexandria middle educational districts. A precoded questionnaire was used to collect the needed data. The results indicate that parameters reflecting physical, social, mental care and personal hygiene were affected by mothers education and her work. Mother's education enabled her to provide better care regarding most of the studied parameters. On the other hand, mothers work prevented her from providing some aspects of care

Study of the knowledge of school students towards family planning after the planned curriculum had been taught First part: the knowledge of family planning among school students in Alexandria

The study was carried out on preparatory and secondary school pupils chosen randomly from the six zones of Alexandria. The aim of this study is to detect the effect of school curriculum on family planning knowledge of the pupils. The study revealed that pupils gained better knowledge from extracurricular sources. By age, pupils knowledge at secondary level were better than preparatory level. Females showed better level of knowledge gained form curriculum than males. Regarding knowledge gained form extracurricular sources, females were better at preparatory level only. Mother's education had good effect on the level of extracurricular knowledge of preparatory school pupils. The results showed that pupils knew moderate knowledge about population dynamics, more about family life and much more about human biology

Health needs of preschool children in Abbis II village

The study was carried out in one of the reclaimed villages near Alexandria [Abbis II village]. The aim of the study was to assess the health needs of the preschool children aged 2.5 to less than 6 years. Two tools were used: an intereviewing achedule and the anthropometric measurements. The study showed that the majority of the children were below the 50th percentiles in weight, hight, mid arm and head circumference. 14% suffered from PCM. The highest coverage for vaccination was for polio [94%] followed by measles [81%] and the least coverage was for BCG [24.5%]. A large proportion of children contracted communicable diseases of childhood: masles 62.5%, mucopurulent conjuctivitis 66.5%, chicken pox 33%, mumps 19.5% and whooping cough 13%.

impact of mother's knowledge concerning oral hygiene on the health condition of their preschool children in Alexandria

This study was carried on 300 mothers with their preschool children attending Day-Care centers in Alexandria. An interview questionnaire was conducted with the mothers and oral examination was done for the children to identify the effect of mother's knowledge concerning oral hygiene on the oral health condition of their preschool children. It was found that educated mothers had better knowledge concerning oral hygiene and nutrition and their children showed better dental health practices. They brush their teeth regularly, and had less dental caries

Family planning in curriculum of Egyptian schools

The aim of this study is to analyze the school curriculum at all levels to find out subjects within the scope of family planning and all factors related to it as well as analyzing the curriculum of primary, preparatory and secondary schools. Analysis of the data revealed that the knowledge concerning family planning came under the titles of population dynamics, family description and its function, as well as human biology and fertility control. Such knowledge was presented within subject matters of Geography, national studies, Science [human biology], Religion and Arabic language. This was included at fifth year primary education, and all grades of preparatory and secondary levels. It was found that knowledge concerning family planning constituted a small amount of total educational hours of all subjects