Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among obese urban schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

Against a background of increasing obesity among Tunisians, we conducted a transversal survey of 1569 children aged 13-19 years selected by multistage cluster sampling to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among obese schoolchildren in the urban area of Sousse. Obese children were found to have higher blood pressure, higher triglyceride levels and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than children of normal weight. In both genders, the mean height and weight across all age groups was significantly higher in urban than in rural children. Our study indicates that obesity and the adverse effects of being over the ideal body weight are no longer limited to industrialized countries

Survey of surgical and radiological semiology modules and their adaptation to the Arabic cultural environment

Many professors of medicine oppose the Arabization of the teaching of medical science in the Maghreb countries, under pretext of the inability of Arabic to convey scientific concepts objectively compared with French. We made a qualitative survey of surgical and radiological semiology used in the Faculty of Medecine, Ibn El Jazzar. Terms, expressions and synonyms were identified and classified according to their cultural load into two categories: "culturally adapted terms" and "culturally strange terms" in relation to the national culture. It was evident that the majority of the recorded expression were based on Western culture. Thus the hypothesis of the neutrality of the French language in the medical teaching is invalid. Furthermore the use of French poses difficulties for students in underst and ing the scientific matter taught, and indirectly promotes Western culture within the medical academic establishments of the Arabic world. The use of the mother tongue in teaching medicine is today an educational necessity

[Attitudes of general practitioners to pharmaceutical sales representatives in Sousse]

The therapeutic knowledge of physicians is the corner stone to the rational use of medicines; however information about medicines is generally obtained from the pharmaceutical industry via their sales representatives [reps]. We aimed to identify general practitioners' [GPs] attitudes to pharmaceutical reps and the information they provide. We surveyed 140 GPs using a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 78% [72 GPs from the public sector and 68 from the private sector]. About 10% of the GPs said they received daily visits from pharmaceutical reps; 84% of GPs considered them an efficient source of information and 31% said they might change their therapeutic prescribing following visits from these reps. Because of their positive perception of pharmaceutical reps, GPs are susceptible to the information they provide. Controlling the validity of the therapeutic information imparted by the pharmaceutical industry is thus a fundamental component of the programme for the rational use of medicines

Study of cardiovascular disease risk factors among rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

We undertook an epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 793 rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia to assess the prevalence of certain cardiovascular disease risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension [11.2%], hypercholesterolaemia [2.9%], hypertriglyceridaemia [1.0%], high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [0.6%] and obesity [4.0%] showed no statistically significant difference based on sex. However, smoking [4%] showed a significant gender difference [boys: 7.3%; girls 1.2%]. The relatively low cardiovascular disease risk factor profile of Tunisian children needs to be encouraged through to adulthood. Thus a school programme of heart health promotion should be established

Study of cardiovascular disease risk factors among urban schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

To assess the risk to Tunisian children of cardiovascular diseases [CVD], we undertook an epidemiological survey of 1569 urban schoolchildren from Sousse. Prevalence rates for the following CVD risk factors were determined: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and other lipid disorders, obesity and tobacco consumption. Hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia showed no statistically significant difference by sex. Hypercholesterolaemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obesity were all significantly higher for girls than boys. Smoking was significantly higher among boys. The relatively low CVD risk factor profile of Tunisian schoolchildren should be encouraged in adulthood and a school heart health programme should be established