Indigenous practices of Saudi girls in Riyadh during their menstrual period.

The objective of this study was to identify the indigenous menstrual hygiene practice of Saudi girls in Riyadh. A total of 600 girls aged from 11 years to 18 years were selected from outpatient clinics at three different hospitals in Riyadh. Data were collected using a structured interview. The results revealed that nearly two-thirds of the girls avoided certain foods, drinks and activities, including showering and performing perineal care, and practised several indigenous rituals during the period. Mother, religious books and sisters were the main sources of the girls' infomation. The study suggests that nurses and health care providers should use all available opportunities to educate young girls about menstruation.

Indigenous practices of Saudi girls in Riyadh during their menstrual period

The objective of this study was to identify the indigenous menstrual hygiene practice of Saudi girls in Riyadh. A total of 600 girls aged from 11 years to 18 years were selected from outpatient clinics at three different hospitals in Riyadh. Data were collected using a structured interview. The results revealed that nearly two-thirds of the girls avoided certain foods, drinks and activities, including showering and performing perineal care, and practised several indigenous rituals during the period. Mother, religious books and sisters were the main sources of the girls' infomation. The study suggests that nurses and health care providers should use all available opportunities to educate young girls about menstruation

Knowledge and practices of mothers about infants' diarrheal episodes.

OBJECTIVES: To study the socioeconomic correlates of infants' diarrhea as well as infants' mothers' knowledge and practice concerning diarrheal diseases. METHODS: Study subjects included 300 infants (150 from Sulaimania Pediatrics Hospital and 150 from the Maternal and Childrens Hospital) with diarrheal episodes during the study period selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected via a structured open ended pilot tested modified questionnaire filled in by trained Arabic speaking research assistants who interviewed mothers about the diarrheal aspects of their infants, assessed their knowledge and practices concerning diarrheal diseases in children as well as collecting the necessary sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers, fathers and infants themselves. RESULTS: The majority of parents of infants with diarrhea were illiterate or can just read and write, mothers were mostly young aged 20 - 29 years, family income for about 40% of the subjects was less than 5000 Saudi Riyals per month. Diarrheal episodes were mostly in infants 6 months or less in age, mostly the first child in order with males more affected than females. Mothers' knowledge about many aspects of diarrhea was grossly deficient but tends to increase with increasing age, educational level, and birth order. Mothers' practices were better but still deficient and sources of information about diarrhea was mostly from non health professionals. CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies to control infants diarrheal episodes needs to be through an integrated approach aiming at boosting mothers' knowledge and improving their practice concerning diarrhea and improving the families socioeconomic status and encouraging all health professionals to act as a readily available source for health information about diarrhea and other important health problems.

The relation of low birth weight to psychosocial stress and maternal anthropometric measurements.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between low birth weight and psychological stress during pregnancy, as well as anthropometric measurements of Saudi mothers. METHODS: A total of 500 Saudi women were selected, according to weight and gestation age of their new born infants, one control was selected per one case (their weight less than 2500 grams). Data was collected from El-Shamasy Maternal and Child Hospital at Riyadh city. Four instruments were used; interview questionnaire, psychosocial scales to measure life stresses, true sheet to assess maternal anthropometric data and new form characteristics. Data was analyzed using SAS system. Analysis techniques included chi-square, odd ratio and P values at < 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The results reflected an increased risk of low birth weight newborns among women who had experienced an intermediate level of stress during a period of 12 months prior to delivery. There was also an association between low birth weight newborns and maternal anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, body mass index, and upper arm circumference. CONCLUSION: Saudi women who had an increasing amount of stress during pregnancy, under weight and short stature have an increased risk of having low birth weight babies. More research is needed in different regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by using the same test for stressor during pregnancy or even using different tests for measuring life stress during pregnancy.

Joint action of nuclear polyhedrosis virus and chemical insecticides against the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.).

A polyhedrosis virus disease was isolated from the larvae of Agrotis ipsilon. Isolation of causative agent from the infected larvae again showed to be positive. Microscopic examination of the infected larvae (by means of a light microscope) gave an evidence of the development of the polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) in all typical tissues where the virus is known to develop. Examination by an electron microscope showed various irregular shaped polyhedra; their diameter being about 1.5 to 3.5 mu. Most of these polyhedra were hexagonal and they measured about 2.2 mu. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate its pathogenicity alone and when combined with chemical insecticides. The joint action of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of A. ipsilon (AINPV) combined with four chemical insecticides namely Fenvalerate, Decamethrin, Cypermethrin and Methomyl was assessed against the second instar larvae of A. ipsilon. Results showed that Decamethrin was the most toxic compound followed by Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate while Methomyl was the least toxic, the median lethal concentrations (LC50) were 0.25, 0.77, 14 and 450 ppm, respectively. The LC50 value of AINPV was 12 x 10(6) PIB/ml. Mixtures containing sublethal concentrations (LC25 and less) of both AINPV and any of the tested insecticides showed synergistic effects. On the other hand, an additive effect was observed with combinations containing doses of chemical insecticides over the range between LC25 and LC50 values.