Study of noise, hearing impairment and hypertension in Egypt

This study included 295 workers of Assiut Generation Station [Upper Egypt]. Two hundred and twenty-one of the workers were exposed to different levels of noise [80 to 107 dBA] and the remaining 74 were used as a control group. There were no significant differences in risk factors viz age, duration of work, body mass index, weight, height, smoking, and previous work as determined by a questionnaire. The relationship between occupational exposure to noise, the degree of hearing loss and hypertension was determined. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the average hearing threshold levels of the two groups [P<0.01] which were more in those workers exposed to noise than in the control group. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also statistically significantly different in the two groups [P<0.001] and they were positively correlated [P<0.001] to the percentage of impairment of the whole body at 4 and 6 kHz, and hearing disability at 0.5, 1,2, and 3 kHz. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that age, noise level and body weight could each be used as a predictor of hypertension. A predictive formula was derived between the amount of hearing loss and blood pressure in the subjects exposed to occupational noise

Effect of employment of women on their attitude and practicing of family planning methods

A case control study was designed to study the effects of employment of women on their practicing family planning [F.P] Methods. A479 women [238 working and 241 non working] were chosen from urban and rural areas of Elminya Governorate, It was proved that 58% of working and 40% of non-working women were practicing F.P. methods [P < 0.01]. Pills were the most common method used, the percentages were 29.3% and 26.9% among working and non-working women respectively, followed by I.U.Ds of 14% and 8.8% among working and non-working women respectively. This was reflected on the mean birth interval of the two groups where the mean in working women. was 2.17+1.1 Years and 1.59 +/- 1 years in non working women. F.P. methods were proportionately increased with the increased level of education where 36.1% of illiterate versus 59.3% of University level were F.P. users, the difference was significant [P < 0.001]. Work of the mother affect positively income of the family and both work and income affect positively the using of F.P. methods

Molluscicidal activity of damsisa ambrosia maritima field trial in Assiut governorate

The effect of damsissa "ambrosia maritima" on bulinus truncates snails was studied. In a segment of Sahel Saleem canal Damsissa whole plant was appliced. An upstream segment of the same canal [without using Damsissa] was taken as a control. Each segment was divided in 10 stations snail surveys at each station were done 5 times before and 5 times after the application of damsissa. The experimental part of the canal showed a significant decline of the number of bulinus truncatus snails in the period after Damsissa application. No significant change in the same period was found in the control part of the canal. Data points to the significant effect of Damsissa in the control for bulinus truncatus snails