Should the health information glaucoma be hospital based or community based?

To compare the prevalence and incidence of glaucoma in 2005 of >/= 30 years-old Omani population. This was a retrospective review of health data type of study conducted in 2007. The study was conducted in the Eye and Ear Health Care Section, Department of Non-Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, The prevalence of glaucoma was estimated through community based modified cluster type of survey. Incidence was estimated from Health Information and Management System [HIMS] Formula to calculate the prevalence from incidence of a chronic disease to compare these 2 estimates. We examined 3,324 persons of >30 years of age. The prevalence was 4.75% [95% confidence intervals 4.02-5.47] with an estimated 20,700 glaucoma cases in Oman. Ophthalmologists reported 1,290 new cases of glaucoma in the same age group. The incidence was 0.30%. The prevalence if calculated from the incidence rates among the population >/= 30 years of age would be 0.30x16.1=4.8%. The survey results are more reliable for policy making. However, HIMS could also generate reliable, periodic, low cost information on glaucoma that could help in estimating the prevalence, and monitoring the program approach to control glaucoma

Oman Eye Study 2005: prevalence and determinants of glaucoma

This community-based study was carried out to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of glaucoma in the Omani population in 2005-06. Residents of 75 randomly selected houses in 25 clusters participated in the survey. We interviewed and examined 3324 individuals aged >/= 30 years in their homes and in eye clinics to note personal details, glaucoma status and presence of selected risk factors: 180 were diagnosed as having glaucoma. Projected prevalence of glaucoma among the Omani population >/= 30 years was 4.75%. Open angle and angle closure types of glaucoma contributed 40.6% and 37.8% respectively. History of hypertension was negatively, and older age and family history of glaucoma were positively, associated with glaucoma

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary-school pupils in Oman: I. Health-compromising behaviours

We investigated the practice of some of health-compromising behaviors among Omani adolescents and their correlates in a nationally representative secondary school-based sample of 1670 boys and 1675 girls. The mean age of the sample was 17.13 [SD 1.35] years. Through a self-administrated questionnaire the adolescents were asked about 6 risky behaviors: current smoking, ever use of alcohol, succumbing to peer pressure to take illicit drugs, driving without a licence, speeding while driving and being involved in a physical fight in the month prior to the survey. Demographic and psychosocial variables related to their risk behaviors were also assessed. The results indicated that 4.6% were current smokers, 4.3% had drunk alcohol and 4.6% had taken drugs. About 20% had been involved in a physical fight in the month prior to the survey, 33.4% drove without a licence and 33.9% liked to speed. Male sex and low self-esteem were the strongest predictors of risky behavior

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary-school pupils in Oman: II. Reproductive health

We examined the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Omani adolescents with regard to reproductive health in a nationally representative secondary school-based sample of 1670 boys and 1675 girls. Through a self-administrated questionnaire the adolescents were asked about puberty, marriage, birth spacing and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Only half of the sample knew the changes at puberty of their own sex, while even fewer knew the changes in the opposite sex. Girls were inclined significantly towards later age of marriage than boys. The mean number of children desired by the sample was 4.9. About two-thirds of the adolescents had a positive attitude toward modern contraceptive methods and intended to use them in the future. Knowledge of fertility period was poor as was knowledge of AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. There was a high rate of approval [80%] of female genital cutting by both sexes

Adolescent reproductive health and gender role attitudes in Oman

The aim of the study was to investigate the attitudes of Omani adolescents towards the different gender roles and women empowerment with regard to taking household decisions, and to study how they influenced the adolescents' knowledge and attitudes towards some reproductive health issues in a national representative secondary schools-based sample of 1670 boys and 1675 girls. In 2001, through a self administrated questionnaire the adolescents answered 2 indices; adolescents Attitudes Toward Gender Roles [ATGR] and adolescents Attitudes Toward Women Empowerment [ATWE] in addition to answering questions on demographic data, environmental factors, and questions assessing their knowledge and attitudes towards reproductive health issues. High scores of ATGR or ATWE were found to significantly predict sound adolescents' reproductive health knowledge or positive attitudes in almost all the logistic regression models. The study highlighted the scope of interventions to be initiated for adolescents reproductive health. Changes in attitudes towards gender role have to accompany our endeavors to set up the stage for our future generation's reproductive health

Blood pressure patterns among the Omani population

The National Blood Pressure Survey aimed to determine blood pressure levels among Omanis > or = 18 years, study the epidemiological factors most related to blood pressure and suggest a programme for the management and control of hypertension in Oman. Of the 4732 people screened, 1278 [27.01%] had high blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis showed that blood pressure depended on age, body mass index and income per capita simultaneously. In a logistic regression model, adjusted risks associated with obesity and those aged >/= 45 years were significantly increased compared with the relevant different categories. A national plan of action for hypertension control and management is recommended and discussed

Congenital anomalies among Omani births: a case control approach

A case control study was initiated in all the hospitals of three regions in Oman, namely North Batinah, South Batinah and Dakhiliya. All cases of congenital anomalies diagnosed at birth were notified to the Non-Communicable Disease Control Section, Directorate General of Health Affairs, through the period from March to end of September 1993. Out of the 15014 births, 178 had congenital anomalies, giving a rate of 11.86 per 1000. The rate was 3.2 per 1000 births for musculoskeletal deformities, 2.00 for congenital heart disease, 1.73 for genital organs, 1.27 for chromosomal anomalies, 1.07 for cleft lip and cleft palate and 0.93 per 1000 births for nervous system malformations. Births whose parents are consanguineous, those with mother's age below 25 years and 30 years and above, those with birth order 8 and more and premature babies were found to be at an increased risk of having congenital anomalies at birth. Studying the epidemiological variables related to congenital anomalies simultaneously in a logistic regression model, revealed that only adjusted risk associated with consanguinity was significantly increased compared to the relevant reference category

Piprofen in treatment of non-articular rheumatism in Pakistan outpatients, a multicentre study

This study was conducted by 50 leading family physicians and consultants scattered throughout Pakistan to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of Pirprofen in non-articular rheumatism in Asian populations. A total of 199 subjects suffering from soft tissue rheumatism completed 2 weeks therapy. Evaluation of patient's condition was made on days 0, 7 and 14, seven target symptoms and signs were evaluated on four point scale [i.e. absent, mild, moderate or severe]. At the end of two weeks of treatment each patient gave his own evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment and physician made his final assessment. Pirprofen was found to be an efficacious drug in treatment of soft tissue rheumatism in Pakistani patients, and its tolerability compared well with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Marked response to treatment was found in each of 7 signs and symptoms studied even after only one week of treatment. This is particularly encouraging as these were precisely the signs and symptoms that would have kept a person from work, or prevented him from performing without restrictions his routine day to day activities. In this study the rapid onset of analgesic effect and improvement of symptoms with low incidence of side effects establishes Pirprofen as a drug of choice for treatment of soft tissue rheumatism

Slow release diclofenac sodium [voltaren] in soft tissue rheumatism A multicenter trial

One hundred and thirty four patients suffering from Soft Tissue Rheumatism were selected and treated with a single morning dose of Diclofenac Sodium [Voltaren SR 100] for duration of two weeks. No other antirheumatic medication or analgesic was permitted during the study period. Evaluation of the patient's condition at each visit was made on a four point scale. At the end of two weeks of treatment, patient gave his own evaluation on the effectiveness of treatment and physician made his final assessment. After one week of treatment, symptom scores, in all their target symptoms, were decreased in 80% of patients. After two weeks of treatment symptom scores had decreased in 90% of patients, and of these 55% were totally symptom free, and another 35% of patients had shown improvement in their symptoms. The medication was evaluated by the physician to be very effective in 81 patients [60.5%], moderately effective in 48 [36%] and ineffective in only 5 [3.5%] patients. Side effects were observed in 14 patients [10%]; they were transient, of mild nature, and in no instance did the treatment have to be prematurely discontinued because of side effects. The result of this study suggests that Voltaren SR 100 is a preparation which combines great efficacy and good tolerability with ease of dosage compliance and is very suitable under ambulatory out-patient or general practice treatment of Soft Tissue Rheumatism