ABSTRACT
We assessed the knowledge of 404 type 2 diabetic patients about their condition in order to evaluate the quality of diabetes education in primary health care units in Sousse in 2003. We found that knowledge was satisfactory in only 59% of the patients. Their knowledge about the definition of diabetes and its pathophysiology were the 2 main areas where knowledge was lacking: the proportion of correct answers were 62.6% and 50.3% respectively. More attention should be paid to educating diabetic patients within the chronic disease care national programme
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology , Patient Education as Topic , Patient Participation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
We aimed to evaluate the attitudes of teachers to tobacco smoking in Kalaa Kebira [a semi-urban region in the Tunisian Sahel]. Data from 358 of 402 teachers surveyed were obtained using a self-completed questionnaire. The mean age of the teachers was 35.7 [SD 7.9] years. The prevalence of smoking was 29.3% [51.6% of men and 3.6% of women], and 79% of smokers were addicted to nicotine according to the Fagerstrom test. About 50% of the teachers were badly-informed about the dangers of smoking and 75.2% of smoking teachers did not refrain from smoking in front of their pupils. The lack of knowledge of teachers limits their role as a model and information source in the anti-tobacco struggle. It is essential to draw up an education programme for the teaching staff
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Smoking/epidemiology , Teaching , Surveys and Questionnaires , Prevalence , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
Against a background of increasing obesity among Tunisians, we conducted a transversal survey of 1569 children aged 13-19 years selected by multistage cluster sampling to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among obese schoolchildren in the urban area of Sousse. Obese children were found to have higher blood pressure, higher triglyceride levels and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than children of normal weight. In both genders, the mean height and weight across all age groups was significantly higher in urban than in rural children. Our study indicates that obesity and the adverse effects of being over the ideal body weight are no longer limited to industrialized countries
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Body Height , Body Weight , Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Hypercholesterolemia/epidemiology , Urban Health/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
We undertook an epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 793 rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia to assess the prevalence of certain cardiovascular disease risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension [11.2%], hypercholesterolaemia [2.9%], hypertriglyceridaemia [1.0%], high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [0.6%] and obesity [4.0%] showed no statistically significant difference based on sex. However, smoking [4%] showed a significant gender difference [boys: 7.3%; girls 1.2%]. The relatively low cardiovascular disease risk factor profile of Tunisian children needs to be encouraged through to adulthood. Thus a school programme of heart health promotion should be established
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Analysis of Variance , Cross-Sectional Studies , Epidemiologic Studies , Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology , Hypertension/epidemiology , Obesity/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Rural Health/statistics & numerical data , Smoking/epidemiologyABSTRACT
To assess the risk to Tunisian children of cardiovascular diseases [CVD], we undertook an epidemiological survey of 1569 urban schoolchildren from Sousse. Prevalence rates for the following CVD risk factors were determined: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and other lipid disorders, obesity and tobacco consumption. Hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia showed no statistically significant difference by sex. Hypercholesterolaemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obesity were all significantly higher for girls than boys. Smoking was significantly higher among boys. The relatively low CVD risk factor profile of Tunisian schoolchildren should be encouraged in adulthood and a school heart health programme should be established