Level of maternal education is a significant determinant of neonatal survival: a PEARL study analysis

The study analyzed the demographic and socio-economic determinants of neonatal mortality. The variables included one fetal variable [gender], three maternal variables [level of education, occupation, age], three paternal variables [level of education, occupation, age], and seven household [family] variables [nationality, consanguinity, family income, house ownership, type of housing, family type, domestic help]. One calendar year data [January to December 2011] was extracted from Qatar's National Perinatal Registry and analyzed using a univariate regression model. Qatar had a total of 20,583 live births and 102 neonatal deaths during 2011 [NMR 4.95/1000]. Less than secondary school maternal education level, as compared to secondary school or above maternal education level, was the only variable significantly associated with neonatal mortality [OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.23 - 3.53, p=0.009]. The association between the remaining thirteen variables and neonatal mortality was non-significant. Priority investment to raise female literacy above secondary school level may significantly improve neonatal survival

Physical and psychological well-being of university students: survey of eleven faculties in Egypt

We examined perceived health status and physical and psychological well-being of 3,271 undergraduate students attending eleven faculties in a university in Egypt. During 2009-2010, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that gathered socio-demographic, physical and psychological health data. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated from students' measured height and weight. Differences across these variables were computed by gender and participating faculties. Whilst more females watched and rated their health favorably, they were more likely to feel psychosomatic/physical health problems, to have seen a medical practitioner or been ill that they had to stay in bed. Females were consistently more likely to feel burdened overall, and across several aspects apart from financial problems. Less females had 'normal' BMI, were satisfied with current weight, perceived their body image as 'just right', or were not worried about their shape. More males rated their quality of life favorably. About 25% of males and 32% of females were either overweight/obese. Exams, presentations, and the lack of time for studies were the frequently-reported burdens. Comparisons of health/well-being indicators across the participating faculties suggested some evidence of 'clustering': Favorable indicators would cluster at some faculties; and conversely, less favorable variables would cluster at other faculties. Generally, the levels of some health complaints and psychological problems/burdens are higher than in other countries. Increased vigilance of university administrators and leaders to monitoring the health and well-being of their students, as well as their health needs is required if policy makers are to operate from a valid evidence base platform. Given cultural factors prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean region generally, female students might require particular attention. The clustering effects suggest the need for local [faculty-specific] health and well-being profiles as basis and guidance for relevant health promotion programs in faculty/university settings

Is alcohol consumption associated with poor academic achievement in university students?

We assessed associations between educational achievement and alcohol consumption. We employed five alcohol consumption measures [length of time of and amount consumed during most recent drinking occasion, frequency of alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking, problem drinking]; and three educational achievement indicators [students' subjective importance of achieving good grades, students' appraisal of their academic performance in comparison with peers, students' actual module mark]. Males were positively associated with all five alcohol consumption measures. Age was negatively associated with three alcohol consumption measures. While students' importance of good grades was negatively associated with three alcohol consumption measures, academic performance in comparison with peers was negatively associated with heavy episodic drinking. Actual module mark was not associated with any alcohol consumption measure. Alcohol consumption showed negative associations with motivation for and subjectively achieved academic performance. University alcohol prevention activities might have positive impact on students' academic success

Achieving excellence in maternal, neonatal and perinatal survival: executive synopsis of pearl study annual report 2011

PEARL Study [Perinatal Neonatal Outcomes Research Study in the Arabian Gulf] is Qatar's prospective National Perinatal Epidemiologic Study funded by QNRF [Qatar National Research Fund - grant # QNRF-NPRP-09-390-3-097]. The study is a joint collaborative research project between Hamad Medical Corporation [HMC], Doha, Qatar and the University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, United Kingdom. The project aims at building a National Neonatal Perinatal Registry for Qatar called Q-Peri-Reg which will be used to quantify Maternal, Neonatal and Perinatal mortality and morbidities and their correlates. The study is approved by the Research Ethics Committee [IRB] of Hamad Medical Corporation [protocol#9211/09], which is responsible for providing ethical approval to all health care research projects in the State of Qatar

Fetal and perinatal determinants of neonatal mortality in the state of Qatar: a pilot phase Univariate and multivariate analysis by PEARL study

To analyze the fetal and perinatal determinants of neonatal mortality. This was a pilot National Prospective cohort-study done from the data source of Qatar Perinatal Registry [Q-Peri-Reg]. National data on total deliveries, live births and neonatal mortality was ascertained from Qatar's national perinatal registry for the study period [1[st] January to 30[th] June 2011]. Data on gender, fetal growth, birth weight, gestational age, presentation at birth, mode of delivery, APGAR scoreat one and five minutes and the need for delivery room resuscitation was ascertained for all neonatal deaths and a corresponding group of control babies and analyzed using a univariate and multivariate model. The total deliveries during the study period were 9797 resulting in 9738 live births. The preterm delivery rate was 4.9%[n=489] and low birth weight delivery rate 7.5%[n=739]. The total numbers of neonatal deaths were 44[NMR 4.5/1000]. Intrauterine growth restriction [IUGR], low birth weight, pretermdelivery, breech presentation, delivery by C-section, low APGAR score at one and five minutes and the need for delivery room resuscitation were significantly associated [P<0.05] with neonatal mortality on univariate analysis. Low birth weight [p<0.001], breech presentation [p=0.041] and the need for delivery room resuscitation [p<0.001] had significant association with neonatal mortality on multivariate analysis. Further improvement in neonatal survival is possible by decreasing the incidence of low birth weight and preterm deliveries as well as by better intra-partum care of breech presentations and fetuses in distress