Health related behaviors among adolescents and youth in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt

A cross-sectional community-based study in rural and urban areas was designed to study the cultural norms and health related behavior about reproduction, female circumcision, STDs, smoking and leisure time use. The data were collected by a personal interview of 1660 adolescents and youth aged 15-24 years in two rural [1151] and two urban [509] areas. Three children were the ideal number of wanted children in 54.2% and more than half considered 35-40 years the ideal age for terminating child bearing. About one-fourth of married females got pregnant three times or more and this was depending on the number of living children and duration of marriage by using logistic regression analysis. Female circumcision was almost universal [98.5%] and decreased markedly by mother's education [82.5%] and 75.9% intended to circumcise their daughters. About-half of adolescents and youth [48.4%] knew about STDs. Of the aware group, 94.9% knew AIDS and 59.2% recommended sticking to religious teaching to protect themselves against STD/AIDS. 30% of males were smokers and the habit was much higher among working groups as free business, skilled workers and farmers. Leisure time use was underutilized, sports were practiced by 26.6%, reading as a hobby by 41.6% and only 12.2% were volunteers for public activities. Literacy and unemployment are major problems with gender disparities

Knowledge, attitude and practice study on female circumcision among University Female Students in Upper Egypt

This survey aimed to study knowledge, attitude and practice of circumcision among female university students of Assiut and South Valley. The study included 546 female students [406 from Assiut University and 140 from South Valley University]. The key findings of the study showed that knowledge of respondents about female circumcision was 99.5% among Assiut students compared with 100% for their counterparts in South Valley University. The study documented that 46.3% of Assiut students were supporting it versus 63.6% for South Valley students and that 34.5% of the first group had the intention to circumcise their daughters versus 38.6% for the second group. On the other hand, the study showed that 74.9% of Assiut students were circumcised compared with 98.6% for South Valley students. This practice declined as the educational level becomes higher. Again, there was a significant difference in FC practice between rural and urban communities. Religion has a significant impact on FC practice, especially in Assiut, where it comprised 86.8% and 35.8% for Muslims and Christians, respectively

Assessment of ambulance service in Assiut governorate

This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the ambulance [rescue] service in Assiut Governorate. The study included the assessment of both input and output of ambulance care delivery system. The study included 14,352 cases rescued by rescue service of Assiut. Relevant data and information about this subject was obtained from records and authorized personnel of Assiut Ambulance Services. The study showed marked shortage in the input of ambulance care delivery system, especially physicians, vehicles and financial support

Family planning acceptability and its relation to socis-economic conditions in Assiut

This study included 2000 currently married women in the child bearing period and their husbands with the aim of assessing family planning acceptability as related to socioeconomic conditions of Assiut community. The target population of the study was interviewed through using the suitable questionnaire. Data of the study were analyzed and interpreted in order to find out factors influencing acceptability of family planning by women of Assiut

Factors influncing utilization of maternal and child health services by rurals of Naga Hammady, upper Egypt

This study was conducted in El-Siad village in Naga Hammadi as a part of a project sponsored by the Japanese International Corporation agency to study relation of the availability of health services and the utilization of MCG services in this village. The results revealed that health services available are underutilized by women of this village. There was a prominent role of the traditional birth attendant in this village. Also, child care services especially vaccination were utilized more than mother care services. It is recommended that this situation should be studied more deeply and determinant factors of utilization and non-utilization derived