Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections and associated factors among blood donors in Aden city, Yemen

This study determined the prevalence of hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] and associated risk factors among blood donors in Aden city, Yemen. A systematic sample of 469 male blood donors was selected from those attending the national blood bank service in Aden between June and October 2007. Data were collected by questionnaire and blood samples collected. Of the 469 participants, 24 [5.1%] were positive for HBsAg and 6 [1.3%] for anti-HCV. In multivariate analysis, history of: blood transfusion [OR = 22.8], dental treatment [OR = 3.6], cupping [OR = 3.9] and malaria infection [OR = 6.8] were significantly associated with being positive for HBsAg. Those with history of blood donation were less likely to be positive for HBsAg [OR = 0.17]. Those with a history of blood donation were significantly less likely to be positive for anti-HCV positivity [OR= 0.05], while those with history of blood transfusion were more likely to test positive [OR = 65.6]. The prevalence of HBV and HCV among blood donors in Yemen is still high compared to many other countries

Periodontal status of type 2 diabetics compared with nondiabetics in north Jordan

The periodontal status of 106 type 2 diabetic patients was assessed and compared with that of 106 age-matched nondiabetics. Patients older than 20 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from the outpatient internal medicine clinics at the 2 main hospitals in Irbid governorate, Jordan. Periodontal disease was more severe in type 2 diabetic patients than in nondiabetics, as indicated by significantly mean higher gingival index, periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment level and tooth mobility. There was no significant difference in the mean plaque index between diabetics and nondiabetics. The severity of periodontal disease was significantly higher in patients with diabetes > 5 years than those with duration

Smoking habits among university students in Jordan: prevalence and associated factors

Questionnaires were completed by 712 university students in north Jordan to estimate their prevalence of smoking. The reported prevalence of current smoking was 35.0% [56.9% for males and 11.4% for females]. About 80% were cigarettes smokers. The majority [86.3%] of smokers smoked daily. Male sex, higher income, lower academic attainment and higher number of friends or family members who smoke were associated with increased prevalence of smoking. Those in the faculty of religion and law were less likely to smoke compared to those in other faculties. The results suggest that policy-makers need to initiate antismoking programmes in Jordanian universities

Prevalence and risk indicators of myopia among schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan

We aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of myopia among secondary-school students in Amman. Thus 1777 [1081 males and 696 females] students aged 12-17 years old were recruited from 8 schools randomly selected from 8 different geographic locations in Amman. Data were collected by questionnaire, and self-reported myopia was checked against school medical records. The prevalence of myopia was 17.6%, with no significant difference between males and females after adjusting for other possible variables. Myopia was significantly associated with age, family history of myopia, computer use, and reading and writing outside school. Playing sports was inversely associated with myopia but there was no association with watching television

Variation in repeat caesarean section complication rates among 3 hospitals in northern Jordan

We investigated the complication rates of repeat caesarean deliveries in 3 hospitals [national health, military, university] in Irbid by examining the obstetric records of 989 women from 1 December 1999 to 30 March 2004. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of previous caesarean sections and hospital. In total, 579 [58.5%] patients underwent elective caesarean section. There were statistically significant differences between hospitals for "failure to progress in labour" and "other" indications for caesarean section. After adjusting for the number of caesarean sections, regression analysis revealed that women from the military and university hospitals were more likely to have placenta praevia. There were no statistically significant differences between hospitals as regards post- operative complications