Self-medication with drugs and complementary and alternative medicines in Alexandria, Egypt: prevalence, patterns and determinants

This study aimed to describe the prevalence, pattern and reasons for self-medication among adults in Alexandria, Egypt. In a community-based survey during 2012, a representative sample of 1100 adults completed a predesigned interview questionnaire on self-medication practices by drugs and complementary or alternative medicines [CAM]. A majority of them practised self-medication [86.4%], mostly using both drugs and CAM [77.5%]. The most commonly used drugs were analgesics [96.7%], and cough and cold preparations [81.9%], but 53.9% of respondents reported self-medication with antibiotics. The most frequently used CAM were herbs [91.6%], followed by spiritual healing [9.4%] and cupping and acupuncture [6.4%]. CAM improved the condition according to 95.2% of users. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, occupation and the presence of chronic conditions were the independent factors significantly affecting the practice of self-medication with drugs

Rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Yemen using a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips

Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in Yemen. This study assessed the validity of a morbidity questionnaire and urine reagent strips as a rapid tool for screening schoolchildren for urinary schistosomiasis as compared with the presence of eggs in urine as the gold-standard parasitological diagnosis. The study examined urine samples and interviewed 696 children [mean age 12.5 years] attending a primary-preparatory school in south Yemen. Urinary schistosomiasis was confirmed in 126 [18.1%] children. Diagnostic performance was poor for 2 items in the morbidity questionnaire [self-reported history of previous infection and self-reported history of antischistosomal treatment]. However, self-reported dysuria, self-reported haematuria in the questionnaire and microhaematuria by reagent strips [alone or with macrohaematuria] revealed good diagnostic performance. The results indicated that reagent strips are a valid method for detection of microhaematuria for identifying individuals and communities infected with Schistosoma haematobium

effect of training of school physicians on their knowledge regarding surveillance in Alexandria

Surveillance is important in schools. Training of school health physicians on surveillance is recommended in order to improve the disease surveillance system. The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of a training program on the knowledge of school physicians regarding surveillance. Seventy school health physicians from all Health lnsurance Organization districts were included in the study. Assessment of their baseline knowledge regarding surveillance was done using a pre-designed self -administered structured questionnaire [pretest]. Accordingly, an intervention program in the form of a workshop was prepared to raise their knowledge regarding surveillance. Within one week after the end of the intervention, assessment of the training program was done using the same data collection tool [post -test]. After the intervention, the percentage of physicians with poor and fair knowledge levels regarding surveillance decreased from 37.4% to 10.4% and from 50.7% to 40.3% respectively, while those with good knowledge level increased from 11.9% to 49.3%. The difference in the mean knowledge score before and after the intervention was statistically significant. ln a multiple linear regression model, two factors significantly affected the school physicians' knowledge score after the intervention. These factors were the total knowledge score before the intervention and the physicians' age. Training of school physicians on disease surveillance affects their level of knowledge regarding surveillance which is essential for planning and evaluation of communicable diseases' prevention and control