Perceived stress among male medical students in Egypt and Saudi Arabia: a cross-culture comparison

In recent years there has been a growing appreciation of the issues of stresses among medical students as this may affect their learning and academic performance. However, such studies are scarce in Arab countries, to determine if there is a difference in the perceived stress levels of male medical students in Mansoura University, Egypt and King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 304 and 284 male medical students in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, respectively. Study tool is a self-reported questionnaire covering sociodemographics and four categories, including 15 items, of sources of stress [stressors]. Perceived stress scale [PSS] and Hospital anxiety and depression [HAD] scale were used to measure stress, anxiety and depression there is no significant difference between the two groups regarding number of stressors. However, Egyptian students were more likely to cite relationship, academic and environmental problems than Saudis. Prevalence of high stress level was nearly equal in both groups. However, anxiety and depression are significantly higher among Egyptian than Saudi students. Logistic regression analysis of independent predictors of severe degree of stress among both groups combined revealed that satisfactory family income and highly educated father are independent protective factors. The independent risky predictors are anxiety and number of stressors. stress, anxiety and depression are frequent among medical students, especially the Egyptian. Counseling and preventive mental health services should be an integral part of the routine clinical services caring for medical students

teenage pregnancy affect obstetric outcomes?

The studies concerning teenage pregnancy outcomes are contradictory; some revealed excess risk of poor outcomes and others didn't. In addition, studies in Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, are very deficient The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of teenage pregnancy and to compare the obstetric outcome of teenage pregnant women less than 20 years with that of older [20-29 years]. A retrospective comparative study was carried out in Northern borders province, Saudi Arabia during the period from January, 1, 2005 to December, 31, 2006. We compared the obstetric outcomes of 118 nulliparous women aged less than 20 years [n=118] who had singleton births during the study period, with that of 432 nulliparous women aged 20-29 years who had singleton births during the same period [control group]. Data were collected from family files, maternity cards and hospital files. Appropriate statistical tests were used to compare between the two groups. The incidence of teenage pregnancy was 3.7% of all live births. Both groups were similar regarding maternal education and occupation, and time of start of antenatal care booking and number of antenatal care visits. Antenatal complications like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, anemia, antepartum hemorrhage and urinary tract infections were similar in study and control groups. Also, the two groups showed no significant difference regarding instrumental vaginal delivery, cesarean section, low birth weight, preterm delivery, posterm delivery, Apgar score at 5 minute and need of newborn babies to admission to neonatal intensive care units. Teenage pregnancy is not associated with bad obstetric outcomes when adequate antenatal care is received

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in children

Earlier surveys in Saudi Arabia indicated that HAV is endemic in Saudi Arabia, however improvement of socioeconomic conditions in this country has led to changes in the epidemiological pattern of hepatitis A and made a determination of the seroprevalence of this disease advisable. To determine the current seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus in selected group of children aged 1-6 years living in Northern borders region, Saudi Arabia, and to identify risk factors for infection. A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study of children 1-6 years of age [n= 950] attending 10 randomly selected primary health care centers [5 urban and 5 rural] was done. The sample size was distributed between urban and rural proportionally. Verbal informed consent was taken from parents or guardian of the recruited child. The parents of all children were subjected to a questionnaire included sociodemographic and housing environmental data. The determination of anti-HAV antibodies was carried out by ELISA-test. The prevalence of HAV-IgG was 33.8% overall, 35.5% among males and 32.0% among females with no statistically significant difference. There was a significant increase in the HAV-IgG with increasing age from 18.9% at [1-<3 years], to 44.1% at [5-<7 years. Rural children were at more risk than urban ones to have exposure to hepatitis A infection. A higher proportion of non Saudi children were anti-HAV seropositive than Saudi ones [43.1% and 32.7% respectively]. The anti-HAV seroprevalence was not associated with family size, but was related to parent's education, occupation, family income and crowding index. Other factors associated with increased risk of HAV seropositivity included non availability of municipal treated water, non hygienic refuse disposal and low social score. From multivariate logistic regression analysis, increasing age, rural residence, non Saudi nationality, and non availability of safe municipal water source were the most important independent predictors for HAV seropositivity in studied children. This study showed a clear decrease in hepatitis A prevalence in the studied children particularly in urban and indicates that a transition may be underway to intermediate endemicity and consequently possible shift of the risk to the adult age with increased morbidity. So, we recommend including Hepatitis A in the schedule of routine childhood vaccinations

Some health hazards among computer users

Although computers enhance our capacity and speed of processing information or data, enabling one to perform tasks which might otherwise take days. weeks or months or even be impossible, it carries certain risks to their users. To investigate the health hazards associated with computer use Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected from 138 computer users chosen from different computer centers in Mansoura city and 120 matched controls. The study revealed significantly higher frequency of general health effects [fatigue, headache, recurrent common cold and sore throat], musculoskeletal and eye complaints among computer users than controls. Skin manifestations showed no statistical significant difference between computer users and controls. Menstrual and reproductive troubles were more frequent among computer working females than control females but the difference was statistically insignificant. The study also, showed that all the psychological traits using middlesex hospital questionnaire [MHQ] were more frequent among computer users compared to controls but the differences were statistically insignificant except for anxiety and obsession. As regard features of computer equipment and work enviromnent as determining factors for these health hazards, it will be discussed. Computer use was significantly associated with some health hazard. So it is recommended to apply ergonomic principles to the design of workplace, equipment and work environment in addition to periodical examination and health education of computer users

Neuropsychiatric problems among bus drivers and their relation to exposure to vehicle exhaust

Bus driving is considered a hazardous occupation due to work stress. Morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular. gastro-intestinal and musculoskeletal disorders among bus drivers were investigated in many studies. In this study neuropsychiatric problems were investigated. Ninety bus drivers from East Delta Company [Mansoura branch] and a matched control group were studied. There was a significant higher prevalence of tingling, numbness and motor. sensory and mixed neuropathy among bus drivers than in controls. Scores of MHQ were significantly higher. Also, there was a decrease in performance of the Neurobehavioural Core Test Battery [NCTB] among bus derivers. Bus derivers had a lower mean value of Hb and oxy Hb, while reduced Hb, carboxy Hb. and blood lead level were significantly higher. The neuropsychiatric problems, MHQ scores and NCTB performance were significantly worse in drivers of badly maintained cars. MHQ scores and psychiatric performance correlated with the duration of work and blood lead levels and Hb derivatives. Causes, association and prevention were discussed