Health status and risk factors of street children in Beni-Suief city

The magnitude of street children problem is escalating, and this is related to increasing levels of poverty especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to highlight the problem of street children in Beni-Sueif city, with emphasis on the health and social status of these children through assessing the health status of these children and identifying the most common risk factors influencing their physical, psychological, and social health. The study was conducted on 101 street children in Beni-Sueif city. Data collection tools included an interview questionnaire form, a physical assessment sheet, and a lab sheet for stool and urine analysis, hemoglobin level and viral Hepatitis B and C markers. The results revealed that their age ranged between 7 and 16 years. The majority were current smokers, used addictive substances, and all had aggressive behavior. The most common physical problems were underweight, angular stomatitis, and teeth decay. All had positive stool analysis, 86.1% were anemic, and 24.8% had positive viral hepatitis markers. The predictors of addiction were male sex, longer duration in the street, and smoking. Age was the predictor of being hepatitis B or C positive. Street children are mostly males who quit or never attended schools, and with untoward family circumstances. The majority are indulged in smoking, substance abuse, and violence. They suffer both physical and psychological problems. It is recommended to study the magnitude of the problem at a national level. The role of NGOs must be fostered. Screening programs are needed for these children

Knowledge and practices of dentists and nurses about cross-infection control measures in dental clinics in Assiut city

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of dentists and nurses toward cross-infection control measures in dental clinics at Assiut City. All dentists and nurses working in the 28 clinics were included in the study. They included 52 dentists, and 51 nurses working in dentist clinic. Data collection tools was Structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts. The first part was concerned with socio-demographic and job information. The second part was for assessment of subjects' knowledge about cross-infection control measures in dental clinics. The third part included subjects' exposure to occupational hazards in the last year. An observation checklist to assess actual practices of subjects in their workplaces, data was collected in the period from the first of June 2006 until the end of November 2006. The study has shown that slightly less than half of the dentists were less than 30 years old [48.1%], slightly less than half of the nurses were 40 years old or more [49.0%]. About two thirds of the dentists [65.4%] were males, while the majority of the nurses [92.2%] were females. Similarly, less than two thirds of the dentists [59.6%] were married, compared to 92.2% of the nurses. As regards work experience, the mean years of experience of the dentists were slightly higher than those of the nurses, 9.3 +/- 7.7 years and 7.4 +/- 4.4 years. Less than half of the dentists [44.2%] and the nurses [45.1%] had attended conferences or educational training courses about infection control during last year. Most of dentists [82.7%] and nurses [72.5%] had satisfactory knowledge. Conversely, the majority of dentists and nurses had poor practice [84.6% and 86.3%] respectively. The study revealed no statistically significant differences were revealed between dentists and nurses in either knowledge or practice It is concluded that although dentists and nurses in dental clinics in Assiut city possess good knowledge about cross-infection and their control measures in these settings, their practice was mostly inadequate. It is recommended that continuing education to dental health care workers be mandatory and include a specific practical component on cross-infection control in dental practices. Enforcement of strict cross-infection control measures practices must be implemented, with provision of needed supplies and equipment. Additionally, every dental clinic must have a written infection control policy, and an active infection control team

Child maltreatment behaviors among parents in the light of socioeconomic background in Assiut university

The aim of the present work was to study child maltreatment behaviors among parents in the light of socioeconomic background in Assiut. It was conducted in several faculties at Assiut university and Assiut university hospital. Males and females who are working in the previous settings, having at least one child at the age of 1-18 years constituting the target population, their number was 322 participants [163males and 159 females]. Data was collected through interviewing each participant individually using the developed questionnaire sheet included participants perceptions concerning definition and factors of child maltreatment, as well as their behaviors concerning child maltreatment. A family socioeconomic scale by Abdel Twab [2000] was used to assess socioeconomic conditions of participants. Results of the present study revealed that children were subjected to one or more forms of maltreatment in 91.6% of families. The most frequently behaviors constituted all forms of child maltreatment were reported by participants with the low followed by those in the middle and the high socioeconomic conditions [100%, 93.9% and 87.5%] respectively. The most frequently reported maltreatment behavior was that constituted emotional abuse 87.3%, followed by physical abuse 80.8%, neglect of safety 37.2%, neglect of medical care 36.5% of participants. A significant high frequently maltreatment behaviors were reported by female participants than male [96.2% and 87.7%] and participants who exposed to maltreatment during their childhood than those who didn't [93.4% and 83.5%] respectively. The present study recommended public education about child rearing and improve parents relationship through mass media including discourage corporal punishment and other forms of violence and suggests ways of treating children