Effect of feeding-type on the nutritional status of infants in urban and rural area

Breast feeding is widely accepted to be the optimal source of nutrition for infants, which providing them with suitable nutrients for growth, development and immune protection. The aim of this study was to compare between different type of feeding and nutritional status and development of infants in urban and rural area in El-Gharbia governement.100 infants and their mothers were chosen randomly from m.c.h. centers. Data were collected from mothers and anthropometric measurements were used to measure nutritional status of infants during vaccines time [2, 4.6.9.12 months] Physical development was followed in the same time. The results showed that 45%of infants were boys and 55% were girls,83%of infants were breastfed 7% were artificial feeding, and 10% were mixed feeding .The mothers of most breast feeding infants [88.37%] were either intermediate or highly educated. Regarding to nutritional status, there was 2%of infants were under weight [weight/age], 8% infants were wasting and 8% were overweight [weight/height] Underweight was found among 14.28% of artificial feeding infants, but not found among breast-feeding infants, while wasting was found among 28.56% of artificial feeding and 30% of mixed feeding. The differences in nutritional status by type of feeding were not significant. All children were anemic in both rural and urban areas .For physical development it was found that breastfeeding infants starting in sitting down, crawling and walking earlier than artificial and mixed feeding infants. The results of this study illustrated that breast-feeding is widely accepted in El-Gharbia -Egypt than other studies before. We can conclude that breast feeding is more suitable for infant's growth and development than other type of feeding

Adverse effects of self-medication practices and improper eating habits among Egyptian hypertensive females

This study aimed to assess the self-medication practices and improper eating habits of Egyptian female hypertensive adults during their reproductive period. The study was conducted on 300 hypertensive women aged 20-40 years attending the Follow-up Outpatient Clinic for Hypertension as well as the Antenatal Clinic in Cairo, Monoufia and Assiut University Hospitals [100 participants from each hospital]. Half of them were pregnant regularly receiving their antenatal care [150 participants, 50 from each site], while the other half [150 participants, 50 from each site] were not pregnant attending their follow up for hypertension control. Hypertension was uncontrolled in 29% of women. Self-medication was high [18.3%] while 24% consumed food items known to impair blood pressure control. However, during pregnancy, self-medication was less practiced [9.3%] while improper eating habits were more practiced [28.7%]. Self-medication was highest in Cairo [26%], followed by Monoufia [16%] and lastly Assiut [13%]. Improper eating habits did not differ significantly according to governorate. Blood pressure was uncontrolled in 39% of women in Cairo, 22% in Monoufia and 26% in Assiut. Physicians were stated as the source of information for hypertensives in hypertension for 9% of patients only compared with 2.7% for nurses. The present study concluded that failure of health care providers to perform their health education role and the obstacles to receive an affordable health service are clear predisposing factors for losing control over blood pressure among hypertensive women whether pregnant or not. Future studies should be directed to clinician-client communication with regard to over-the-counter [OTC] recommendations made for clients on antihypertensive therapy. Nurses providing care at blood pressure clinics have an ideal opportunity to clarify misunderstandings about OTC medications, nutrition supplements held by their clients with hypertension