Mammography screening utilization behavior among Egyptian female employees in Alexandria

Background: breast cancer [BC] has become a health priority due to its increasing incidence. It is line at' curable when detected at an early stage, so there is an urgent need for its early detection. Mammography screening [MS] is the main recommended test for early detection of BC

Objectives: the aim of the study was to assess MS utilization behavior among female employees and to identify some factors based on the Health Belief Model that determines the likelihood of MS utilization behavior in terms of health beliefs, knowledge about BC and its risk factors, and access and need for MS

Methods: the study was conducted among 400 female employees aged 40 years and older in four workplace sectors in Alexandria using a cross sectional approach. A predesigned interview questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data, habits, reproductive history, family history, culture affiliation, access to MS, reproductive health screening behavior, MS utilization behavior, need for MS, knowledge about BC and MS, perceptions towards BC and MS, perceived threat [susceptibility and severity], perceived benefits and perceived barriers to MS, [personal barriers, economic barriers, health care system barriers]

Results: more than two thirds of females [69.7%] had bad MS utilization. Seventy-two percent females had poor knowledge about BC protective factors, signs and symptoms and risk factors of BC and about MS. The perception of the studied females was high concerning susceptibility and seriousness of BC and benefits of screening but there were some perceived personal, economic and health care system barriers to MS. Multiple linear regression analysis of the factors predicting MS utilization shows that age, accessibility, perceived need, total knowledge of BC, MS, and occupation sector were the significant predictors

Conclusion: the majority of female employees had poor knowledge about BC and MS. Increasing the females' knowledge about BC and accessibility to screening areas are important strategies influencing their decisions about whether or not to participate in cancer preventive practices

Parasitic infections among Egyptian adolescents and its association with anemia: a national study

A national survey of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years was conducted in Egypt, in 1997. This study describes results of stool and urine analysis for the presence of parasites and their association with anemia. 1,953 adolescents submitted either urine or stool sample and 1,904 provided a blood sample. 45.2% harboured a parasite and protozoa showed higher proportions than helminths, with Giardia lamblia [24.2%] as the most common parasitic protozoan. Area of residence was a significant predictor for infection where adolescents from Lower and Upper Egypt showed higher rates than those from urban governorates. Anemia was significantly associated with Schistosoma haematobium, Ascaris lumbricoides and with multiple parasites. Results suggest a need for implementing a national control program

Compliance with antituberculosis drugs among tuberculosis patients in Alexandria, Egypt

Tuberculosis is an important reemerging disease with increasing global morbidity and mortality. Tuberculosis control is hindered by patient noncompliance with treatment regimens. To study compliance to antituberculosis drug regimens, 172 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis during the first three months of 1995 were investigated. The patients were interviewed at their homes during July and August 1995. More than one-third [34.9%] of the patients were not adhering to the antituberculosis drug regimen. Factors increasing drug compliance included: disease symptoms, knowledge about the disease, family history of tuberculosis and hospitalization. More information about the disease and the importance of compliance should be provided to tuberculosis patients at the time of diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Supervision of drug administration by health care personnel is stressed