Adaptation and validation of the Moroccan Arabic version of the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics questionnaire [PIDAQ]

Objective: The aims of this study were to translate and culturally adapt the PIDAQ native English version into Moroccan Arabic, and to assess the psychometric characteristics of the version thereby obtained

Materials and methods: The PIDAQ original English version was sequentially subjected to translation into Moroccan Arabic, back-translation into English, committee review, and pretesting in 30 subjects seeking orthodontic treatment

Results: The final Moroccan Arabic version further underwent an analysis of psychometric properties on a random sample of 99 adult subjects [84 females and 15 males, aged 20.97 +/- 1.10 years]. The intraclass coefficient correlation of the scores of the responses obtained after administration of the questionnaire twice at a 1-month interval to a random sample of 30 subjects ranged from 0.63 for ''Self-confidence" to 0.85 for ''Social Impact". Cronbach [alpha] coefficients ranging from 0.78 for ''Aesthetic Concerns" to 0.87 for ''Self-confidence" were obtained; the different subscales of the Moroccan Arabic version of the PIDAQ showed good correlation with the perception of aesthetics and orthodontic treatment need

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that the Moroccan Arabic version of the PIDAQ obtained following thorough adaptation of the native form is both reliable and valid. It is able to capture self-perception of orthodontic aesthetic and treatment need and is consistent with normative need for orthodontic treatment

Burden of smoking in Moroccan rural areas

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of current smoking among rural Moroccans. The population study included 3438 individuals aged 15 years and above from both sexes. The crude prevalence of current smoking [currently smoked and had smoked > 100 cigarettes in lifetime] was 16.9% in the adolescent and adult rural population: 31.0% among men and 1.1% among women. The majority of smokers [74.4% of men and 68.8% of women] began smoking before age 20 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, marital status, occupation and region of residence were the strongest determinants of current smoking. These results showed a high prevalence of smoking among males in the rural population of Morocco

Prevalence of the nosocomial infection and risk factors

The prevalence of the nosocomial infection was 6, 7%, in the first study done at the University hospital center. The results were considered as underestimated. This study was done to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with to create a new strategy against NI in this UHC. A cross sectional study was conducted. All the patients hospitalized the day of the study in this establishment were included and were examined to look for NI. The following risk factors were also looked for: the presence of a catheter, a urinary sound and surgical intervention. The statistical analysis was carried out using the software Epi info version 6. Chi-square test was used for comparing categorical data, and the Student's t-test for comparing the means. Significance was taken as P < 0.05. 276 patients were hospitalized the day of the study. Sex Ratio [Men/Women] was 0.92. The average age was 35.25 +/- 21 years with [0 - 84]. More than a third of the investigated patients [40.9%] had surgery and 36.2% of them had a vascular catheter, 13.8% had a urinary sound and 4.3% benefited from artificial ventilation. The prevalence of NI was 11.2% in all departments. 79, 3% of patients got NI on the same day of study and in the same hospitalised department The two main factors associated with the occurance of NI were surgicl operations [p = 0.04] and duration of hospitalisation [15 days or more] [p = 0, 002]. The results between the present and previous study [2004 and 2006 respectively] shows a significant increase of the NI prevalence [p = 0, 036]. The results of this study 2006 allowed estimating the NI prevalence evolution with a more relevant collection of data, consequently, a rational and adequate decision-taking

[Prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial infections in Hassan II University Hospital, Fes, Morocco]

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial infection at Hassan II university hospital and the causative microorganisms among 282 inpatients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 16.4 [SD = 15] days. The prevalence of nosocomial infection was 6.7%. Infections at the site of the operation were the commonest. No catheter-related infection was noted. The main organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The occurrence of a nosocomial infection was significantly associated with surgical operation [P = 0.005], presence of urinary catheter [P = 0.002] and length of hospital stay greater than 3 weeks [P = 0.04]

[Epidemiology of animal bites related risk in Fez in Morocco]

Our strudy was carried out has for main objective to estimate the extent of the problem of the animal bites involving a potential risk of rabies in Fès city to describe the epidemiologic profile of people bitten by animals. Our study was carried out during one year period [2004] at the Municipal Office of Hygiene of Fez by using the data of a monitoring register. A descriptive statistical has been conducted. The study related to 868 bite cases. The median age of the bitten cases was 21 years; [range 1 to 90 years]. 72% were male. September was the month when the frequency of the bites was most important [n=94], the winter months seem to correspond to a period of lower risk. Most animal bites were from dogs [85.4%] and in 95% of cases the bite was single. These bites generally occured on the lower limbs [498 cases, 64%], followed by upper limbs [197 cases, 25%]. The part of the body affected differed according to victim age: 8,5% of victims under 14 years of age had been bitten on the head, compared to 2% of victims aged more than 30 years. On the other hand, 72,4% of victims aged more than 30 years had been bitten at the lower limbs, compared to 56% of victims under 14 years of age [p<0,00001]. In our series the median time between the bite and the beginning of prevention is one day. The anti-tetanus serum was received by 327 patients [37.7%] while only 93 cases [10.7%] received an antirabic serotherapy. This study allowed estimating the frequency of animal bites exposing to the risk of rabies in Fez. The results encourage us to develop and implement measurements to prevent animal bites and rabies