Knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls towards reproductive health in Cairo, Egypt

knowledge of adolescent girls - as future mothers - about reproductive health represents a major protective issue world wide and in Egypt. To identify knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls toward reproductive health among secondary school in Cairo, Egypt. A cross sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls toward reproductive health at secondary schools in Cairo, Egypt. By multistage random sample, a total of 346 girls were chosen to explore the underlying variables. The girls were enrolled from different departments either science or literature during their presence at school in the period from January 2007 to may 2007. Well structured questionnaire was used for collection of the required data. Scores for knowledge and attitude were done. Administrative and ethical issues including autonomy, confidentiality and informed consent were obtained during all stages of the study. Data collected were analyzed on SPSS program version 12. Descriptive and analytic statistics were done. The lowest accepted level of significance was 0.05 or less. The study revealed that the students have accepted score about pre-marriage period [6.45/10] with no statistically significant differences between those studying science and those of literature department. Premarital examination and counseling achieved the highest knowledge score; it was known by 93.6%. Adolescents have very poor knowledge regarding marriage, conception and family planning. The achieved score was 3.59/10 with no statistically significant differences between both departments. Breast feeding scored the highest score among elements of this component [known by 99.7%] of the studied girls. Immunization during pregnancy and knowing types of family planning scored the least scores among this component [19.7% and 31.8% respectively]. The total knowledge score achieved by the adolescents was very poor [12.47/24] with no statistically significant difference between both departments. The study revealed absence of family role as a source of information in more than half of the studied sample. The respondents show positive attitude towards the researched items of reproductive health [84.1% show positive attitude and 15.3% show neutral attitude]. In conclusion, there are great shortages in the knowledge about reproductive health. It would be a missed opportunity not to provide correct information about reproductive health in schools. This study suggests the need for education reforms through use of reproductive health curricula [international standards, mission, educational objectives, and well constructed curricula]. The role of families, mass media, and school seminars about reproductive health should not be ignored and must be enhanced Telephone helpline services may be provided both confidentially and free of charge

White and grey matter abnormalities in some neurometabolic disorders: a clinico-radiological correlation

Inborn errors of metabolism [IEM] are common throughout the Middle East, presumably because of the relatively high rates of consanguinity. Disorders of inborn errors of metabolism that affect the CNS are divided according to MRI picture into disorders involving grey or white matter or both. Only very few studies on inborn errors of metabolism have been done in Egypt. However, with the introduction of MRI and increasing awareness of the disease, more and more cases of metabolic diseases are being diagnosed. Many of these diseases if detected early can be cured and MRI might play a vital role in its early diagnosis. MRI has virtually replaced all other imaging modalities including CT in the evaluation of white matter diseases due to its excellent gray-white matter resolution and multiplanar imaging capability. The aim of this work is to identify the pattern of white and grey matter involvement in some neurometabolic diseases and to evaluate the role of MRI as an investigative modality in inborn errors of metabolism and to document its value in early diagnosis and hence management. This is a descriptive study done among 800 patients suspected of having an inborn error of metabolism and referred to the clinic of inherited metabolic disease at Cairo University Children Hospitals, at the centre of Social and Preventive Medicine. Only fourteen patients were found to have the diagnosis of metabolic disease and abnormal findings on MRI. Out of 14 cases, 11 were males [78.6%] while 3 [21.4%] were females. At presentation, the mean age +/- SD of the patients was 4.36 +/- 3.775 years, and their ages ranged from 9 months to 16 years. Four cases [28.5%] were diagnosed as Leigh disease, 4 cases [28.5%] as metachromatic leukodystrophy, 2 cases [14.2%] as Canavan disease, 1 [7.1%] as methylmalonic academia, 1 [7.1%] as Vander Knappe disease, 1 [7.1%] as mucolipidosis, and one [7.1%] as Wilson disease. Clinical presentation included positive consanguinity in 9 cases [64.3%], other sibs affected in 5 cases [35.7%]. Global developmental delay in 3 cases [21.4%], and developmental regression in 11 cases [78.6%]. Attacks of disturbed conscious level with metabolic acidosis were encountered in 5 cases [35.7%]. Seizures were encountered in 6 patients [42.9%] [four of them were generalized tonic clonic, one was multifocal clonic and one was hemifocal]. All types achieved good control on one or two antiepileptic drugs. Extrapyramidal symptoms were present in 5 cases [35.7%], and ataxia in 2 cases [14.3%]. On examination there was spasticity in 11 cases [78.5%], while only 3 patients [21.4%] were hypotonic. On measuring the skull circumference, 6 patients [42.9%] had microcephaly, 4 patients [28.5%] were macrocephalic and 4 cases had normal skull circumference. Fundus examination was done and revealed optic atrophy in 2 cases [14.3%]. MRI was a guide in reaching a proper diagnosis in these cases, definitive diagnosis was done by tandem mass spectrometry [TMS], enzymatic essay and skin or gingival biopsies according to each case. When properly used, MRI pattern recognition approach in conjunction with the other imaging tools can be very useful for separating the complex group of metabolic disorders into more manageable groups. Indeed, sometimes this approach allows a specific diagnosis to be made. Although the pattern of disease in MRI is not often specific, the distribution may suggest a differential diagnosis that may be pursued by increasingly specific enzyme analysis

Assessing knowledge, attitude and practices of primary health care physicians towards screening patients for hypertension in Cairo

Hypertension [HTN] is a common serious health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality rates .At the same time,HTN is widely prevalent all over the world including Egypt. For many people, the primary care physician is their first point of contact with the health care system, as well as their main source of preventive and essential care. Assessing knowledge, attitude and practices of primary health care physicians towards screening patients for hypertension in Cairo. A cross-sectional study, conducted in the primary health care centres [PHCC] in Nasr city, which was chosen randomly to represent Cairo city, where all doctors working in these centres were asked to complete a self administered structured and open ended questionnaire contained the relevant variables. About 90% of the studied physicians were convinced with the importance of routine measuring blood pressure for risky patients and 79% stated that role of the PHC physician should be the early detection of HTN. As regards knowledge towards HTN items, only 23.5% knew the prevalence and 18.5% knew the most recent definition and grading. The practices of the doctors towards screening patients for HTN,showed that only 63.9% of the doctors usually perform accurate and enough procedures to diagnose HTN patients and 46.2% routinely screen patients around forty years old while only 43.7% were regularly checking up the accuracy of the used sphygmomanometers. The participating physicians had poor knowledge towards some important items especially the prevalence and new classification of HTN. Their practices were not optimal as regards the accurate diagnosis of HTN and routine checkup and measuring blood pressure for people attending the PHC clinics. Recommendations to manage these defects were suggested

Degree of compliance towards therapeutic tasks among diabetic patients attending a health insurance setting in Cairo

Compliance/adherence of diabetic patients towards different therapeutic aspects [other than drugs] is considered one of the most important elements to control diabetes mellitus [DM]. A cross sectional study was conducted on 283 diabetic patients chosen by systematic random sample among those attending Alf-Maskan Health Insurance Outpatients clinics in East Cairo, [from April- May 2007], to assess their compliance behaviors in relation to management of their disease.Showed that most of the diabetics [61.1%] had a poor total compliance rate for the therapeutic tasks of [DM] as a whole, though the larger proportion of the diabetics [44.9%] had a satisfactory overall knowledge about the important items of DM. As regards the individual therapeutic tasks, there were also poor compliance rates concerning diet regimen, regular exercise, cessation of smoking, weight monitoring and care of eye and foot. Good compliance rate was significantly higher among patients who were males, highly educated, those of high socioeconomic level, those who had better knowledge about the disease and those who had suffered from multiple co-morbidities and suffered from DM at least ten years. Recommendations were suggested to improve patient compliance towards management tasks of the disease through health education program because increasing the information of the patients about the disease and its complications through the shared health care team including the patient himself was valuable

Community perception twoards traditional medicine in Nasr - City [Cairo]

This work aimed to assess the community perception as regards knowledge, attitude and use of traditional remedies in Nasr City, Cairo, where all person attending El-Hay El-Sades, PHC Center, were interviewed during one month [October 2003] with a pre-tested questionnaire. 35.6% of the total studied sample had used traditional remedies, mostly herbs [88.3%] with higher prevalence among females [56.1%], older people [56.9%], educated persons [53.5%] and higher socio-economic ones [80.0%]. A strong belief in herbs as an efficient therapy was reported by 54.3% of persons, especially among educated persons [81.7%] in contrast to cautery and bone setting, where the predominant attitude was that these are harmful as reported by 60% and 58% of the sample, respectively. It was also found that three- quarters of the responders did not consult any conventional health care before using these remedies, and 80% of the remaining quarter did not get good benefit from consultation

Detection of gamma rays effects in maize by biochemical genetic analyses

The agronomic and molecular effects on grains irradiated with 100, 150 and 200Gy of gamma rays were studied on both M1 plants and seedlings grown fromembryo culture of four maize inbred lines [Zea mays L.] G4, G221D, G307A andRg 11. Results showed significant effects on plant height [G221D and Rg 11],days from planting to 50% pollen shedden [G4, G221D and G307A], days fromplanting to 50% silking in the four inbreds, and grain yield per plant [G221Dand Rg 11]. Electrophoretic analysis was performed for water soluble proteinsof seedlings and calli resulting from the irradiated grain embryos of thethree maize inbreds G4, G307A and Rg 11. The effect of irradiation at theprotein level [albumin and globulin] varied considerably, where some new bandsappeared while others disappeared; this can be used as molecular geneticmarkers related to irradiation doses

[Compatibility study between mebeverine hydrochloride and tablet excipients using differential scanning calorimetry]

A critical evaluation of the utility of differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] for the detection of possible interactions occurring between niebeverine hydrochloride and a number of commonly used tablet excipient is given

High dose of dipyridamole and treadmill exercise test in patients with coronary artery disease

Pharmacologic stress test with dipyridamole [DIP] is an emerging technique for the detection of coronary artery disease [CAD]. It has been shown to be easy and a safe and particularly useful for patients in whom standard exercise stress test is not feasible. This study was planned first to evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic value and safety of DIP stress echo; second, to assess its relative sensitivity specificity and diagnostic accuracy as compared with standard treadmill