[Demographic factors influencing hepatitis B and C infection in Benghazi, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]

We studied the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infection among a sample of patients referred to the Department of the Infectious and Endemic Diseases at Al Jamahiriya Hospital in Benghazi. Of a total 3250 patients, 40% were randomly selected. Of these, 51.2% were infected with hepatitis B virus, 46.9% with hepatitis C virus and 1.9% with hepatitis B and C. Younger patients and single patients were more prone to hepatitis B infection, while older patients, married patients and travellers were more prone to hepatitis C. About 20% of hepatitis B cases and 25% of hepatitis C cases were non-Libyans. Males were more affected [65%] than females [35%]

Behavioral problems among pupils

To find the prevalence of some behavioral problems among Libyan public primary school children in Benghazi. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 25th February and the end of October 1993, by selecting randomly three public primary schools in different socio-economic areas, from which a sample of 2088 pupils from 1st -6th classes were included. A questionnaire concerning social, psychological and behavioral aspects was completed by teachers, social workers, parents and researchers. The pupils who got >/= 15 Conner's Scale were considered as hyperactives, meanwhile the success mark was considered as 50%, any mark below that in one subject or more in the final examination was considered a failure. This study shows that 26% of the sample had failed once or more, 8.1% had aggressive, and 9.2% had stealing and lying behaviors, while 5.3% of the sample manifested hyperactivity, and finally 7.3% were left handed. This paper stresses the importance of behavioral problems among school children, and that they deserve more attention and consideration to solve them and to prevent their sequelae in the further