Knowledge, attitude and practice towards abortion and post abortion care among Egyptian private obstetricians and gynaecologists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of private obstetricians and gynaecologists towards abortion, post-abortion care, and post-abortion family planning. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study, from June 2017 to May 2018, using a self-administered questionnaire of 150 obstetricians/gynaecologists at private clinics, centres, hospitals in Ismailia, Egypt. The questionnaire was composed of four broad sections: section one was about the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants; section two was about physicians' knowledge, attitude and practices regarding abortion; section three was about their attitudes and practices regarding post-abortion family planning and screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in patients presenting for induced abortion; and section four was about the socio-demographic characteristics of women seeking induced abortion taken from the physicians' views. RESULTS: Only 15.2% of participants had performed an abortion for unwanted pregnancies at ≤12 weeks vs. 3.8% for unwanted pregnancies >12 weeks' gestation. The most common reason for not performing an abortion was religious prohibition (80.35% vs. 86.6% for unwanted pregnancy ≤12 and > 12 weeks, respectively). Social causes were the most common reason for seeking an induced abortion. None of the physicians used manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) for abortion or had received training in MVA. Post-abortion family planning counselling was offered by 20.5% of physicians, while 13.6% screened for STDs. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of private obstetricians/gynaecologists in Ismailia, Egypt, do not perform abortions for unwanted pregnancies because of their religious beliefs. Post-abortion screening for STDs and family planning services are not sufficiently integrated into post-abortion care.

Epidemiology of workplace violence against nursing staff in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Violence against health care workers (HCW) or workplace violence in general is a major problem affecting health and productivity of HCWs. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and nature of workplace violence against nurses in Ismailia governorate, Egypt, and to identify its risk factors and how nurses manage it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study, using a questionnaire for data collection, which includes demographic data, characteristics of workplace violence events, and risk factors contributing to workplace violence. All nursing staff in four hospitals and twelve Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers, randomly selected from Ismailia city were recruited. Out of 1600 distributed questionnaires, a total of completed 970 were returned (a 55% response rate). RESULTS: 269 (27.7%) of nurses reported abuse of any kind, 187 (69.5%) verbal abuse; and 25 (9.3%) physical abuse. Males were more exposed to violence events during the past 12 months than females (35.3% versus 24.2%, p<0.05; OR=1.71). Being single posed no higher risk of exposure to violence than being married (34.8% vs 31.2%, p = 0.083). Changing shifts to night time had a higher odds for being assaulted than working a morning shift (p=0.002, OR=1.58). Working in a place crowded with colleagues was not protective and had a higher odds of being exposed to violence than working with low number of colleagues (p<0.001, OR=2.77). The patients were the perpetrators in 62.8% of violence events, while their relatives committed 16.7% of events. Only 7.4% of nurses got physical injury because of the violence events. A considerable proportion of exposed nurses (55.8%) thought that the violence events were preventable. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Workplace violence against nurses is a significant problem in health care settings all over the world and in Ismailia, Egypt. There is a need to increase awareness of the problem among health care workers as well as the general public. Further large-scale studies should be conducted to more closely examine the problem.

Prevalence of latent TB among health care workers in four major tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) infection represents a global health problem and a great risk to Health Care Workers (HCWs). Identifying individuals, particularly HCWs with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will support TB control through chemoprophylaxis and prevent cross-infection. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify prevalence of Latent TB among a two-year new hires of HCWs in 4 major tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 2650 recently (2-years) hired HCWs were surveyed for latent TB using Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). Data was collected from January 2008 to December 2009. Induration due to TST equal to or more than 10 mm. within 48-72 hours was considered positive. The results of TST were correlated with other variables such as age group, gender, job category, country of origin. RESULTS: as an overall rate, 291(11%) out of 2650 were positive for TST, with the highest significant positive rates among physicians (14.9%) and nurses (12.9%) compared to students as a reference group. No statistically significant difference was detected between both sexes. The highest significant positive TST rates were found among HCWs in the age group of 50 years and older (32.6%) compared to 10-19 years age group as a reference group, and among HCWs coming from sub-Saharan countries (61.1%) compared to Saudi HCWs with the lowest positive rates (5%) as a reference group. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: LTB is prevalent among newly hired HCWs in Riyadh tertiary hospitals. Standard programs for detection and treatment of LTB should be encouraged.

Road traffic injuries in saudi arabia, and its impact on the working population.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed at describing the problem of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in Saudi Arabia and it impact on the working population in terms of lost productivity. Registry review for Data on road traffic injuries and deaths were collected for the period of 1997 to 2002, and compared to population census during the same period. Potential Productive Years of Life Lost (PPYLL) was calculated. The total number of deaths due to RTIs was 21905 deaths and the total PPYLL due to RTIs was 459820.81. In all age groups, the losses in males were 1.91 to 8.52 times greater than in females, these differences were statistically significant. Males showed an increasing trend of PPYLL for 20 - 29, 10 - 19, 40 - 49 and 30 - 39 years age groups as ordered in descending order and increasing trend of PPYLL for 20 - 29 and 30 - 39 years age groups in females as ordered in descending order. The increasing trend was more expressive in males. PPYLL average was 76636.8 years annually in the productive years of life on years 1997 to 2002, with about 26.46% increase in 2002. CONCLUSION: RTIs is a major health problem affecting all age groups, working population are more vulnerable due to commuting. Losses in productive years are more prominent and serious in productive age groups.

Workplace influenza vaccination in two major industries in saudi arabia: a cost benefit analysis.

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of mass Influenza vaccination on workers health and costs reductions. We compared 1396 Influenza vaccinated workers versus 1004 not vaccinated workers from same workplaces, regarding outcome of interests, like frequency of Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI), frequency of physician office visits due to ILI, sick leaves due to ILI, and cost benefit analysis and cost saving analysis in two major industries in Riyadh; food processing, and chemical industries. The goal of vaccination coverage was 80%, but the maximum coverage reached was 58%. Average sick-leave days reduction during the 4 months follow up period was from 1.27 days/worker in the no vaccine group to 0.31 days/worker in the vaccine group (p<0.001). Also, there is a reduction in the average number of physician office visits from 0.99/worker in the no vaccine group to 0.23 days/worker in the vaccine group (p<0.001); with relative risk reduction of ILI among vaccinated workers to 0.37 (0.31<95%CI< 0.44) compared to no vaccine group. Combined data from the two industries showed a net saving of about 28 US$ per each vaccinated worker.

Impact evaluation of nutrition education intervention for an elementary school in riyadh city.

A nutritional education intervention (NEI) was conducted to assess its impact and suitability for the 5th and 6th graders at a governmental girls' elementary school in Riyadh city. The study design was a randomized posttest only control group. The results revealed that the mean knowledge score of the first posttest for intervention classes was higher than that of their controls (F=91.147, p<0.001). This score increased markedly among all classes at the post-posttest. The mean self-efficacy (SE) score of the control class of 5th graders and intervention class of 6th graders at posttest were much lower than that of their comparable classes and both classes showed significant increase of SE in the post-posttest (paired t=2.819 and 4.561, p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively). The mean practice score of the posttest was lower among intervention class of the 5th graders than their control, but both means were much higher than that of both classes of the 6th graders (F=6.856, p<0.001). Only control class of the 6th graders showed increased mean practice score at the post-posttest. Stepwise linear regression models reveal that exposure to NEI session was a major predictor of students knowledge at posttest (R(2)=.345). Knowledge score was a predictor of students' dietary SE and practices scores at posttest (R(2)=.041 & .136). Self efficacy was a predictor of students' dietary practices at posttest and post-posttest (R(2)=.107 & .162) as well as lower body mass index (R(2)=.048). The study recommends the replication of such a program among diverse population of school students to have more improvement in students' dietary knowledge, SE and practices.

HIV/AIDS perceptions and risky behaviors in squatter areas in Cairo, Egypt.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this work was to assess HIV/AIDS perceptions and risky behaviors of adults living in squatter areas in order to take decisions about the relevant messages and health education methods that should be used to prevent HIV transmission in the studied communities. Two methods were used to collect data in this cross sectional study, focus group discussion and structured interview. The study was carried out in six squatter areas in Cairo, four of them located in west Cairo and two in east Cairo. RESULTS: 237 community members and community leaders shared in the study, 44.7% were males and 55.3% females, 64.1% were married and 34% single. Community members represented two-thirds of the sample while one-third were community leaders. Participants expressed strong eagerness to know more about HIV/AIDS. Poor knowledge and misconception about HIV/AIDS was remarkable. The study revealed several misconceptions regarding modes of transmission and preventive measures that could be used to protect oneself from HIV/AIDS. Heterosexual extramarital relationships and i.v. drug transmission were the HIV/AIDS risky behaviors considered to be prevalent in these communities. AIDS risky behaviors appear to be more prevalent in the four squatter areas in west Cairo than in the two squatter areas located in east Cairo. Adolescents were considered at high risk of contracting AIDS because of the risky behaviors they practice. Social non-acceptance of females who practice HIV/AIDS risky behaviors is much stronger than non-acceptance of males who practice the same risky behaviors. TV movies were the main source of information about HIV/AIDS. Parents played no role in providing adolescents with information about AIDS. The possible role of teachers in HIV/AIDS education is unclear because of the negative attitude of people towards teachers.