Study of occurence of nephropathy among farmers exposed to pesticides in rice agriculture in egypt

This work aimed at studying the effect of exposure to a pesticide [Fu radan] used in. rice agriculture in Egypt, on renal junctions for the purpose of detection of nephropathy. The prospective study was carried out during the season of the year 1996 and comprised 189 rural males free from any renal impairment or other illnesses leading to renal affection, out of which 92 farmers were exposed to the pesticide and 97 controls. The results revealed development of microalbuminuria in 28.26% of the exposed farmers compared to none of the other group with a statistically significant difference [P<0.01]. Urinary alkaline phosphatase became significantly higher among the exposed than the other group [19.95 +/- 14.38 and 4.83 +/- 1.94 U/24 hours respectively]. Also, serum creatinine was elevated among the first group after exposure to the pesticide [1.06 +/- 0.16 mg/ dl] to be significantly higher than among the second group [0.83 +/- 0.14 mg/dl] [P<0.01]. Although the values of urinary alkaline phosphatase and serum creatinine among the exposed farmers by the end of the study were still within the normal range yet their values increased significantly after exposure to the pesticide [P<0.01]. In conclusion, exposure of the agricultural workers to this pesticide was found to affect both glomerular and tubular renal functions. Hence, we should stress on rural community awareness about the ways of exposure and the hazards of pesticides: training of Egyptian farmers about the appropriate use of personal protective equipment and personal hygiene. Further studies are recommended to show the persistence of renal affection among the exposed farmers

End stage renal disease in Kalyoubia governorate, an epidemiological study

This work was designed to study the epidemiological aspects of end stage renal disease [ESRD] in Kalyoubja Governorate. All attendants of the four dialysis centers providing the service in the locality, during the period from November 1994 till February 1996, were the target group for this study [210 patients]. The results of this study revealed that the majority of patients [81.9%] were males and 73.8% were rural residents A higher percentage of the studied cases [62.4%] aged 45 years or more. However, females were found to have the disease more frequently at a younger age [< 45 years]. About two thirds of males [63.4%] were manual and skilled workers while 79.0% of females were housewives Disease duration was found to be significantly higher among males than females [4.1 +/- 2.4 and 2.9 +/- 1.9 years respectively] Subsequently haemodialysis duration was significantly higher among males [P < 0.05]. Tubulo-interstitial and metabolic diseases [D.M., obstructive uropathy, mediteranean fever gout and iatrogenic nephropathies] were the etiological factor in 31.0% of the studied patients. Vascular diseases [hypertension and collagen diseases] caused 16.2%, of cases, 9lomerulopathy [glomerulonephritis and bilharziasis] was responsible for 29.0%, congenital diseases 4.3% while 19.5%of cases resulted from unknown etiology. Hypertension was found to be significantly related to the etiology of ESRD while socio-demographic factors were not significantly related, Hence. Early detection, control of infections and chronic conditions predisposing to renal diseases together with regulation of drug use are recommended

Acute ophthalmological problems among patients attending Benha University Hospital

Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or emergency room in Benha University Hospital during the last three months of the year 1994 were studied. Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest in the previous three categories [40.2%. 35.8% and 48.6% respectively]. Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children [76.7%], rural residents [42.5%] and non-educated patients [42.0%]. Ocular trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of [1.6: 1]. It occurred mainly in childhood [48.4%] and in manual and skilled workers [48.6%]. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in childhood [52.2%] while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults [42.9%]. Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or general health services accounted for the remainder [11.7% and 7.6% respectively]. Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and 26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular Inflammations [81.5%] received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient [45.3%] or inpatient [28.4%]. Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in outpatient [63.9%] or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical management [29.2% and 6.9% respectively]. Residents managed most cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone [87.6% and 85.2% respectively], while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous cases [31.9%].Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended. Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is essential to maintain effective services

KAP study of family planning among married rural females in kalyobia Governorate

This work was conducted on attendants of a rural health unit in El-Shokre Village, Kalyobia governorate. Three hundreds and twenty married women in the child bearing period were the target sample. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] of married rural women towards family planning in kalyobia governorate. This research showed that 92.1% of contraceptive users aged 25 years or more compared to 75.0% of the non-users. Illiteracy was significantly prevalent among non-users who were mainly not working and bearing more number of children than contraceptive users. The most popular and practiced contraceptive methods were intrauterine device and contraceptive pills. A significant gap was also found between users and non-users regarding their opinion about the ideal number of children and the ideal interconceptional period where non-users preferred more number of children as well as shorter period [P < 0.05]. Mass media was found to be an effective source of knowledge among users than nonusers [72.6% and 39.3% respectively] while neighbours and relatives had a significant effect on the group of non-users than contraceptive users [P < 0.05]. The findings pointed to the minimal effect of rural health unit as a source of knowledge to the studied women. The study showed that interpregnancy spacing and having enough number of children were the main causes of acceptance of contraception among users. The results also, revealed satisfaction of contraceptive users where the discontinuation rate was 18.5%. The prominent reason for discontinuation was the desire to get more children while the main cause of rejection, given by non-users, was related to health factors and fear of side effects [57.2%]. The researchers stress on the importance of health education program, integrated with the other activities of primary health care units, to provide illiterate rural inhabitants with the correct knowledge about family planning as well as the effectiveness and safety of the contraceptive methods in order to creat a favourable attitude and practice

Compliance of mothers with immunization services in an Egyptian rural area

A cross-sectional study was carried out by interviewing 337 mothers, having children aged 9-24 months, from an Egyptian village to examine their compliance with immunization of their children as an important factor in determination of immunization coverage. This work revealed that 85.8% of the studied mothers were compliant with immunization. Mothers of young age, with higher education and who were employees as well as whose husbands were of high educational and occupational levels were found to have significantly higher compliance rates than others. Mothers were found to have a higher rate of non-compliance when they had children of female sex and of higher birth order. The majority [94.1%] of the compliant mothers immunized their children for protection against infectious diseases while 4.5% of them imitated other people and only 1.4% [mostly noneducated] to avoid punishment. Non-compliant mothers attributed their failure to follow the immunization schedule of children to various reasons such as unsuitable system of work [43.7%], far distance of the local rural health unit [25.0%] or due to false perception of the need of their children for immunization [16.7%]