RESUMO
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES.
Assuntos
Proteção da Criança/estatística & dados numéricos , Hepatite A/epidemiologia , Classe Social , Saúde da População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Distribuição por Idade , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Egito/epidemiologia , Doenças Endêmicas/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Hepatite A/imunologia , Hepatite A/metabolismo , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite A/sangue , Vírus da Hepatite A Humana/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Vigilância da População , Eliminação de Resíduos/estatística & dados numéricos , Características de Residência/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores de Risco , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Abastecimento de Água/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus [HAV] antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status [SES] in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES
Assuntos
Hepatite A , Vírus da Hepatite A Humana , Proteção da Criança , Fatores de Risco , Saúde da População Urbana , Classe Social , Abastecimento de Água , Distribuição por Idade , Distribuição por Sexo , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice towards HIV/AIDS among alcohol and drug abusers and the effect of health education (HE) on their knowledge and attitudes. Participants were 265 substance abusers, recruited from 8 addiction rehabilitation centers. A base line study preceding HE was done using a questionnaire composed of five sections. Three scores were developed to assess HIV/AIDS related knowledge. The base line study indicates that addicts with good knowledge scores > or =75%) regarding modes of transmission were significantly higher among males than females. About 70% of the addicts had negative attitudes towards dealing with HIV/AIDS patients, while 55.5% felt sympathy for them. Eleven percent of the injection drug abusers were sharing needle with others, while 38% of the participating females were previously convicted of prostitution. Logistic analysis showed that high level of education was the best predictive variable for good knowledge scores (> or =75%). Evaluation of the health education program revealed a highly significant increase in the knowledge scores among both males and females compared to the pretest scores. An increase in the percentages of male and female addicts with improved attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients was also noted after HE. So, HE was found to be a successful tool in improving the knowledge and attitudes of substance abusers towards HIV/AIDS.
