Immunization coverage and its determinants among children 12-23 months of age in Aden, Yemen

To assess the immunization status of children aged 12-23 months and its determinants in Aden, Yemen. This cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and July 2007 during which time mothers of 680 children from 37 randomly selected clusters in Aden, were interviewed. Information on socio-demographic profiles and children's immunization status was obtained. Immunization coverage of all officially provided vaccines was assessed. Analysis of association between immunization coverage and the socio-demographic characteristics were tested using logistic regression analysis with the immunization status as the dependent variable. We found that 83.1% had complete, 10.4% had partial, and 6.5% were never immunized. The immunization card retention rate was 84.9%. The immunization coverage was 92.9% for Bacillus- Calmette- Gu‚rin, 89.6% for Oral Polio Vaccine-3, 86.6% for Diphtheria, Pertusis and Tetanus-3 and Hepatitis-B vaccination, and 89.1% for measles. Multivariate analysis showed that children with an immunization card [odds ratio [OR] = 14.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.50-25.44] were more likely to have complete immunization, while children with older aged mothers [OR= 0.41; 95% CI: 0.22-0.77] were more likely to have complete immunization. Despite the high immunization coverage, 16.9% of children did not have complete immunization, and this rate was lower among children of older mothers, and those who retained their immunization cards. Raising awareness of immunization and increasing access to health services must be strengthened

Cancers of the urinary system among yemeni patients [Aden cancer center, 1997-2001]

The Purpose of the present paper is to describe the pattern of the cancers of the urinary system registered in Aden Cancer Registry [ACR] as regards age and sex distribution, residency, sub site, histopathological diagnosis and incidence rate. Methodology: The registered cancers in ACR during the period of five years [1st of January 1997 through 31st of December 2001] were analyzed to describe the pattern of urinary system cancers [kidney, bladder and urethra, ICD-0: 64:9-68:9]. Canreg-3 and Epi-Info software were used in the analysis of data. Classification and coding of cancers were carried out according to the ICD-O and ICD-b. A total of 1735 cases were registered during the period of the study. Of them, 56 cases [3.2%] were urinary system cancers. Sex distribution showed male preponderance [76.8%]. More than two-thirds of cases were bladder cancers [67.9%], compared to 30.4% kidney cancers and 1.8% urethral cancers. Transitional cell carcinoma was the most frequent histological type. The median age at diagnosis was 59 years [Range 3-78 years]. The highest age-specific incidence rate of bladder cancer observed at the age 55-<65 years [11.8/100.000 inhabitants for males vs. 6/100.000 inhabitants for females], whereas that of kidney cancers observed at an older age [65-<75 years] [3.1/100.000 inhabitants and 2.6/100.000 inhabitants for males and females respectively]. Conclusion and recommendations: Cancers of the urinary system comprised a minority of the registered cases. However, many of these cancers have predisposing risk factors and produce early warning signs and symptoms, therefore, increasing the awareness of the public about the early warning signs of these cancers and further studies to investigate the community-related risk factors and the survival of patients are mandatory

Colorectal cancer among Yemeni patients characteristics and trends

This study aimed to describe the characteristics and trends of colorectal cancer registered in Aden Cancer Registry. A retrospective analysis of all registered cancers [1735] was performed at Aden Cancer Center, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen from the years 1997-2001, to describe colorectal cancers with regards to age, sex and residency distribution, subsites and histopathology, and incidence rates. The results indicate that digestive system cancers are the most common cancers [17.1%]; and colorectal cancer [28%] is the most common of these. Developing countries characteristics of this cancer are clear. These include a relatively high proportion of early-onset tumor [19.3% of cases were <40 years], and left sided subsite distribution [49.4% of cases were in the rectum and rectosigmoid junction]. Further analytical studies, to address the community-related risk factors, public education, and screening programs for colorectal cancer are mandatory