Hypertension among females in a highly disadvantaged community in Jordan.

This study was conducted with the aim of finding the prevalence rate of hypertension and the relationship between hypertension and selected socioeconomic and dietary parameters in females aged 15-49 years in a disadvantaged community in Jordan. A household survey was carried out, using a questionnaire as an instrument for interviewing subjects. About 19% of females had hypertension, ranging between 7.5% in the very young to 58% in women aged 45-49 years. Hypertension was significantly associated with almost all variables studied such as age, education, marital status, parity, obesity, and dietary patterns. Some strategies were suggested to improve the situation in the future.

Epidemiology of urinary incontinence in Jordanian women.

OBJECTIVE: To find out prevalence rate of urine incontinence (UI) in a representative sample of women aged 50-65 years in south Jordan. The study will also investigate the relationship between UI (stress and urge) and the following variables: age of the woman and her parity, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection (UTI), body mass index (BMI), medications (diuretics), menopause, past history of hysterectomy, and poor mobility. METHODS: For achieving the objectives of this study, a sample of women (n=182) in the age group 50 - 65 years in south Jordan (Karak, Taffileh, Aqaba) was selected using a multistage sampling procedure to represent women in this age group in south Jordan. A questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were used as the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study before starting data collection from the field. Data was collected from the field in July 2003. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Chi Square Test and Fisher's Exact Probability Test were used to identify the significance of associations between UI and characteristics of the respondents. RESULTS: Approximately one third of respondents had urinary incontinence; 23.1% had stress UI, 26.4% had urge UI, and 18.1% had the mixed type. Prevalence rate of UI was 56.3% for women suffering from UTI and 50% for those who use diuretics. Approximately 54% of women who need help to go around inside the house were complaining of UI. High prevalence rates were also observed if parity was 5 - 6 (43.5%), women at menopause (39.7%), obese women (39.3%), and in diabetic women (35%). High prevalence rates of stress incontinence were found in women suffering from UTI (37.5%), in women using diuretics (39.5%), if parity was 5 - 6 (34.8%), and in women with past history of hysterectomy (28.6%). Stress UI was increasing with the increase in the BMI. The associations between urge incontinence, BMI, UTI, use of diuretics, and the ability to go around inside the house were all significant at the 0.05 level. CONCLUSION: Prevalence rate of UI varied from one country to another and from one study to another study. Possible reasons for such inconsistency were discussed. Appropriate treatment of UI should be based on valid diagnosis of cases, type of UI, and the identification of contributing factors. Lines of treatment and interventions for UI were discussed. Further studies of this condition are needed in Jordan for both males and females and in all age groups. Such studies should emphasize the size of the problem, etiology and risk factors, and the cost of the problem for both the incontinent person and for the health care system.

Effectiveness of treatment of tonsillopharyngitis: comparative study.

This study was performed to find out the effectiveness of three different treatments of patients having acute tonsillopharyngitis. Three groups of patients were selected (50 patients in each group). Group I received one antibiotic according to the result of culture and sensitivity test, while groups II and III received two antibiotics or one antibiotic respectively without a culture and sensitivity test. Diagnosis was based on the acutely subjective symptoms of sore throat and positive clinical examination findings. The effectiveness of treatment in group I (96 per cent) was statistically significant (p<0.05) and higher than group II (82 per cent) and group III (74 per cent), while the difference between group II and III was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Our findings demonstrate that a culture and sensitivity test of the throat swab is necessary before treating acute tonsillopharyngitis. It was suggested that there should be appropriate selection of antibiotics to preserve normal flora, avoidance antibiotics for viral infections, patient compliance with prescription and educational programmes directed at patients and physicians. All of these measures would assist in reducing the volume of antibiotic use, bacterial resistance and the overall cost of treatment of tonsillopharyngitis.