ABSTRACT
We explored the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of 330 5th year medical students in Alexandria University towards female genital mutilation (FGM). The students' basic knowledge about the practice of FGM was unsatisfactory. Students were unaware of the prevalence of FGM in Egypt and the practices and procedures of FGM. They were also poorly informed about the complications of FGM, and the ethical and legal aspects of FGM in the country. As a result, 52.0% of the students supported the continuation of the practice and 73.2% were in favour of its "medicalization" as a strategy for reducing the risks of FGM. Most students (86.9%) thought that the issue of FGM should be incorporated into the undergraduate medical curriculum.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Circumcision, Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Students, Medical/psychology , Adult , Attitude to Health/ethnology , Christianity/psychology , Circumcision, Female/adverse effects , Circumcision, Female/ethnology , Circumcision, Female/methods , Circumcision, Female/statistics & numerical data , Clinical Competence , Cross-Sectional Studies , Curriculum , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Egypt , Female , Health Priorities , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Islam/psychology , Male , Social Problems , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Population , Women's Health , Women's RightsABSTRACT
We explored the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of 330 5th year medical students in Alexandria University towards female genital mutilation [FGM]. The students' basic knowledge about the practice of FGM was unsatisfactory. Students were unaware of the prevalence of FGM in Egypt and the practices and procedures of FGM. They were also poorly informed about the complications of FGM, and the ethical and legal aspects of FGM in the country. As a result, 52.0% of the students supported the continuation of the practice and 73.2% were in favour of its "medicalization" as a strategy for reducing the risks of FGM. Most students [86.9%] thought that the issue of FGM should be incorporated into the undergraduate medical curriculum
Subject(s)
Students, Medical , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Human Rights Abuses , World Health Organization , Circumcision, FemaleABSTRACT
Studies were carried out on the radioallergosorbent test (R.A.S.T.) in comparison with the Elisa for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Using sera from known S. mansoni, S. haematobium and both S. mansoni and S. haematobium cases, R.A.S.T. showed high sensitivity; 72%, 55% and 75% respectively, in the detection and quantification of specific IgE antibodies. While in case of ELISA only 20% of patients were positive. With control sera, both tests showed 100% negative. It is concluded that R.A.S.T. is more specific and superior than ELISA for IgE detection in schistosomiasis.
Subject(s)
Immunoglobulin E/analysis , Schistosoma haematobium/immunology , Schistosoma mansoni/immunology , Schistosomiasis haematobia/diagnosis , Schistosomiasis mansoni/diagnosis , Animals , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Male , Radioallergosorbent TestABSTRACT
A comparison has been made of a newly modified diffusion-in-gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent technique (DIG-ELISA) and an established, standardized ELISA, using sera as well as whole blood adsorbed on filter paper discs. With known human cases of S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium, both tests showed great sensitivity in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis; 93%-95% positive for ELISA and 92%-93% positive by DIG-ELISA on using egg antigens, while 92% positive for ELISA and 91% positive by DIG-ELISA when worm antigens were used. DIG-ELISA is characterised by its technical simplicity, high sensitivity which make it an excellent screening serological technique especially in endemic areas. Moreover, the use of whole blood on filter paper discs (paper disc DIG-ELISA), rather than serum from venipuncture should add more advantages for its field application.
