Accident prevention program in a glass factory in Shoubra El Khema district.

BACKGROUND: An accident can be defined as an unplanned event that results in or suggests the possibility of personal injury, property damage production interruption diminished health or environmental damage. The accidents have a cost impact on the employees and the company itself. OBJECTIVE: This intervention study was carried out to decrease the accident rate in a glass factory in Shoubra El-Khema district. METHODS: A glass factory in Shoubra El-Khema was selected to implement an intervention program. The program was done through three phases. 1. A preliminary interview questionnaire. 2. Seminars of health education were done to all workers and managers with availability of health education posters, establishment of accident committee and a new reporting system, contract with a housekeeping company was done and also training of some leaders. 3. Concurrent and final evaluation of the program was done. RESULTS: The incidence rate, frequency and severity rate of accidents were decreased at the end of the year after the intervention program. The differences were statistically significant. The opinions of the workers and managers about the different causes of accidents were changed. The belief of the workers and managers about efficiency of health educatio program was changed. Some leaders were trained on skills of health education. Modification of reporting and notification system was done. CONCLUSION: This intervention study succeeded in decreasing accidents rates and increasing the awareness of the managers to decrease accident rates. The beliefs and thoughts o both workers and managers became near to each other. The production loss due to days lost by accidents was reduced. RECOMMENDATIONS: Upgrading process in the factory are recommended to eliminate the hazards at source. Sustaining and continuation of the established preventive program should be done. Trying to apply the program in similar factories is also recommended.

Pre-eclampsia: epidemiology and outcome of 995 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology and pregnancy outcome of pre-eclampsia at Ain Shams University Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology. STUDY DESIGN: A case control study involved 995 cases of pre-eclampsia, 227 cases with chronic hypertension and 1375 cases with normal pregnancy delivered during the year 2000 at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. All these cases were critically analyzed regarding to some risk factors as age, parity, blood group, diabetes mellitus, Rhesus factor and multiple pregnancy. The outcomes of all these 3 groups were compared regarding to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Pre-eclampsia was more common in elder age, blood group B, in Rhesus negative, during summer, multiple pregnancy and in patients with diabetes mellitus. The difference was statistically significant regarding all these risk factors (p < 0.01) when compared with cases of chronic hypertension and patients with normal pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: In this work pre-eclampsia was found to be an important cause for maternal and fetal mortality. Also it was found to be an important cause for premature deliveries.

A preliminary screening study on human cystic echinococcosis in Cairo slaughter house personnel.

A descriptive serological screening study was done on human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in high risk groups selected from Cairo slaughter house employees and the household nearby using indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) tests. Characterized camel hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) antigen by 12.5% sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used. Three asymptomatic clinical cases (1.3%) were seropositive using EITB assay (reacting with six HCF protein bands of molecular weights approximately 7, 21, 28, 35, 127 and 210 kilodaltons 'kDa') but one case was seronegative by the IHA test. All three cases had typical lesions of CE in liver and lung revealed by abdominal ultrasonography (US), computerized tomography (CT) scan and chest X-ray. The prevalence of CE in Cairo slaughter house workers was 1.6% versus 1.1% in the household nearby.