Assessment of renal insufficiency in gestational proteinuric hypertension in third trimester pregnancy.

This prospective study on assessment of renal insufficiency in pregnancy induced proteinuric hypertension was carried out on 104 cases, in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (former IPGM&R), Dhaka during period of August 1997 to September 1998. The objective of this study, to find out the impairment of renal function in mild (<110 mmHg) and severe (>110 mmHg) hypertension. The frequency of mild hypertension was 96.29% and severe hypertension was 3.71% in third trimester of pregnancy. In this study mean age of the patient was 26.53+/-3.9 years, mean gestional age was 36.46+/-1.93 weeks and mean diastolic BP was 99.07 mmHg. The prevalence of hypertension was more in primigravida which was (72.23%) than multigravida (27.77%). Proteinuria was diagnosed as quantitative measurement of 24 hour urinary protein in photometric colorometer. The mean value of total urinary protein was 335+/-74.14 mg/24 hour (range 280-800 mg/24) hour). 1+Oedema was present in 48.14%, 2+ was 12.96% and 3+ was 14.81% of cases. There is a correlation of proteinuric hypertension with renal function which was done on the basis of laboratory investigations. Findings of parameters of renal function found to declined: Serum creatinine mean value 1.0+/-0.14 (P<0.001) (normal range 0.6-0.8 mg/dl.), Urinary creatinine mean 57.69+/-12 mg/dl., Creatinine clearance mean 53.72+/-11.63 ml/min, Total urinary protein mean 335.52+/-74.14 mg/24 hour. Total urinary volume mean 2985+/-49 ml/24 hr. All the patients and their babies were followed up till discharge from hospital. Cesarean section was done in 76% of cases and vaginal delivery was done in 24% cases. Mean hospital stay was prolonged in proteinuric hypertension 7+/-1 days than non proteinuric normotensive goup 3+/-1 days. All of those were average socio-economic status. Extreme low birth weight was 14.81% in 50% of IUGR cases.

Quality of health education posters in primary health care centers in Al-Khobar town, eastern province

Health Education [HE] is vital to each of the seven other central elements of Public Health Care [PHC] HE must be carefully planned and implemented. A crucial part of HE is planning, production and placement of effective HE posters. Assess the quality of health education posters in Al-Khobar PHC centers. A cross-sectional study of a sample of 138 HE posters in three PHC centers in Al-Khobar was conducted. The quality of posters in relation to set criteria was measured using a data sheet and scoring system developed by the investigator. The health education subjects displayed were among the common health problems in Saudi Arabia in 134 [97.1%] of the posters. More than one-third [34.8%] had been displayed for more than one year. in 74[53.6%] of the posters, the source of scientific information was unknown. The assessment showed that 109 [79%] posters were of optimal quality. The study showed that the health education posters in PHC center in Al-Khobar were relatively satisfactory, though they did not fulfill some of the required criteria. Health education posters should be included in the assessment of health education programs in primary health care centers

Assessment of participants knowledge before the course about hazards of the drug addiction

Teachers and supervisors of Presidency of Female Education in Dammam and Female students in King Faisal University. A cross sectional study was conducted. A self administered questionnaire was used before and after the course to measure the knowledge level. Before the course, 15.6% of the participants were classified as high level according to the knowledge of drug addiction hazards. The percentage increased to 78.1% after the course. The low level of knowledge was nil among the participants after the course. The mean score before the course was 165.66 +/- 29.54 [SD] and after the course 216.00 +/- 28.55[SD]. The differences between the two mean scores was statistically significant at [P<0.001]. This is a positive indicator of the importance and value of the course

Evaluation of antenatal referrals from health centres to the maternity and children's hospital in Dammam city, Saudi Arabia

To evaluate antenatal referral rates from Primary Health Care [PHC] centres to the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Dammam and factors affecting it. Methodology: Four randomly Selected Primary Health Care Centres in Dammam city. A sample of 135 pregnant women referred to the hospital [cases] and 135 pregnant women not referred [controls] were randomly selected. A double phase sampling scheme was adopted. Questionnaires regarding the characteristics of the general practitioners [GPs] were distributed to those GPs caring for antenatal patients in the 4 health centres. There was a variation in the referral rates of the five general practitioners from 11.5 to 21.2 per 100 antenatal consultation. It was found that certain characteristics of the GPs had an important influence on the referral rates. High risk factors in pregnancy were present in some of the controls but they were not referred. Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a variation in the referral rates between the GPs. There is a need to monitor and improve the quality of the antenatal care and the referral process. Better training of the GPs and implementing shared obstetric care is recommended