Evidence for effectiveness of intervention to combat obesity among workers at El Minia University

The prevalence of obesity and its associated health .problems have increased sharply in the past 2 decades particularly in developing countries. Lifestyle interventions include exercise, dietary change, behavior therapy, or some combination of these components. To describe the problem of obesity and its contributing factors among workers at El-Minia University and to explore whether the three modalities of life style intervention used with obese workers differ in their efficacy to improve outcome measures. An interventional study in which 480 workers from El-Minia University were participated. Data were collected by a special designed detailed questionnaire. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured; vital signs and blood examination for sugar and lipid profile were undertaken. Three types of life styles interventions were done to the obese: dietary modification, exercise promotion, and combination of dietary and exercise intervention. Post-intervention questionnaire, anthropometry and other outcome indicators were measured. More than two thirds [68.2%] of the participants were obese or at risk of obesity [overweight]. Obesity was nearly twice more common in females than males [61.2 vs. 38.8%] and increased with increasing age. Central obesity determined according to waist circumference was found to be 32.8% and 38.4% among males and females respectively. About 41% of administrative workers and nearly 28% of teaching staff and 23% of manual workers were obese. Eating more than three regular meals and eating snacks have significant relation to the development of obesity. The most contributing risk factor of obesity is the sedentary type of work followed by obesity during the childhood, and eating unhealthy snacks. There is a statistical significant relation between parity and the development of obesity. Obese workers had significantly higher systolic blood pressure than non-obese. The cholesterol level decreased significantly and HDL increased significantly after the intervention, There is significant decrease in BMI in the three groups after the intervention, but the combination of diet and exercise intervention is better than diet intervention alone which in turn is better than exercise intervention alone. Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent among workers at El Minia University which pose them more at risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, as well as joint and back pain. There is an inverse association between physical activity and weight gain. There was sufficient evidence to suggest that dietary plus exercise intervention is the best method to combat obesity and to improve outcome measures

Factors affecting initiation and continuation of breast feeding in a rural area in El-Minia Governorate

A cross sectional study was performed on 243 infants living in a rural area at [Towa village] in El-Minia Governorate during Autumn 1996, to examine breast feeding pattern, during the first two years of life a questionnaire including demographic, antenatal, natal and post natal factors was designed and used. Among the interviewed mothers 78.1%were found to have breast fed their infants till 2 years of age. Most of lactating mothers [80.4%] begin breast feeding within l hour after delivery. Only 53.2% of breast fed mothers had antenatal care. History of successful breast feeding was found in 86.5% of lactating mothers these differences were statistically significant p=0.0001. By multiple regression analysis the most affecting factors were onest of initiation of breast feeding and time of introduction of supplements [weaning]. In conclusion most of mothers in rural area in El-Minia are still early initiating and maintaing breast feeding

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in young children after a mass hepatitis B vaccination program

hepatitis B [HB] virus infection represents a serious public health problem in many countries of the world, and Egypt was considered as one of the countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection. So the ministry of health and population conducted a mass hepatitis B vaccination program that began in 1992 to overcome this health problem. To evaluate the immune status of children born after the national HB vaccination program and to determine the relationship between the most common risk factors for HB infection and HB markers in incomplete vaccines. Three hundred children ranging in age from 12 months to 72 months were randomly recruited from 4 health offices: two from rural areas in Giza and two from urban areas in Cairo. They were tested for HB markers. The protection rate reached 98% among completely vaccinated children but it was 75.3% in incompletely vaccinated children [p< 0.001]. The infection rate was 4% among complete vaccines while it reached 6.3% among incomplete vaccines. Two percent of the completely vaccinated children and 6% of tile incomplete vaccines were carriers to HBV. This study indicates the efficacy of HBV vaccination. But to achieve maximum protection it is important to adhere to the complete vaccination schedule. A booster dose of HB vaccine is not needed six years after complete vaccination