Socioeconomic determinants of eating pattern of adolescent students in Mansoura, Egypt

Introduction During the last few decades, Egypt experienced rapid socio-cultural changes that were associated with major changes in the food choices and eating habits, which, progressively, becomes more westernized. The objective of this study was to investigate the meal patterns of secondary school adolescent students in Mansoura, Egypt. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 891 adolescent students. Thirty clusters were selected to cover both general and vocational public schools of both sexes in urban and rural areas. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about sociodemographic features of the students and their families, as well as meal habits of students. Results About 46% of students eat three meals per day. About 72%, 93% and 95% of respondents consume breakfast, lunch and dinner on daily bases, respectively. Snacks were eaten daily by 34.1% of students. Eating always with the family was stated by the majority (62.5%) of students and taking home made sandwiches during school time was mentioned by 35.8% of students. On logistic regression socioeconomic status is the only predictor associated with daily intake of breakfast, lunch and dinner; with high likelihood of eating with the family and intake of school meal. Conclusion Students practice many faulty meal patterns. School-, family- and community-based interventions are timely needed to promote healthy eating habit in adolescents.Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 13:2

Nursing Students’ Perceptions of the Educational Learning Environment in Pediatric and Maternity Courses using DREEM Questionnaire

Background: Educational surroundings is one of the most vital factors in figuring out the fulfillment of an powerful curriculum and gaining of knowledge . Aim: To compare students’ perceptions of the academic learning environment in Pediatric and Maternity courses using DREEM Questionnaire. Design: This is a comparative study. Subjects: Five hundred and eleven of the third year nursing students studying maternity and pediatric courses by traditional policy participated in the study during the academic year 2014-2015. Setting: Pediatric and maternity nursing departments at Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt. Tool: An interviewing Questionnaire of two parts: First includes general characteristics such as:  age, sex and courses involved. Part two: Includes the DREEM questionnaire. Results: The total mean score for pediatric and maternity nursing students’ perception of their learning environment were 115.0±.23.02 and 110.3±17.4; respectively. Students’  belief in their gaining knowledge of environment in both specialties were “more positive than negative” with a significant difference between both groups (t=2.6, p=0.01).All students agreed to a more positive approach regarding their learning “moving in the right direction” for their teachers, feeling “ more on the positive side” for their academic self perception, feeling “ more on the positive side” for their learning atmosphere “ a more positive attitude” they also reported that their social self perceptions were “ not too bad. The results showed that 10% of both pediatrics and maternity students have mean score ≤2 consider (problem areas).More than one third of pediatrics and maternity students have mean score 2.1 - 3 (which needing improvement). About half of pediatrics and maternity students have mean score 3.1 - 3.5 (positive aspect) while none of our students scored >3.5(excellent items). Conclusion: The perceptions of nursing students of their mastering learning environment were “more positive than negative” with a significant difference between pediatric and maternity students. Although the overall questionnaire score was showed to be “more positive than negative” there were five objects out of the 50 that determined mean scores of less than 2.00 that have to be tested greater carefully . Keywords: Perceptions, Learning Environment, DREEM Questionnair

Bed utilization pattern of intensive care units affiliated to Ministry of Health: a national study in Egypt prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: This study aims to calculate the following bed utilization of intensive care Units (ICU) at the national and regional levels. METHODS: A descriptive retrospective record-based study was done in all ICUs affiliated to Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP). RESULTS: ICU admission rate ranged from 0.09% to 0.41% with 0.19%. BOR ranged from 10% to 72% with 60%. The ALS (Days) ranged from 1.92 days to 5.41 days with 3.61 days. The average ABTI per year ranged from 1.42 days to 25.04 days with 2.46 days. The average ABTR ranged from 13.14 to 101.02 with 60.14. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of ICUs affiliated to MOHP is not optimal at the national level and there is a room for improvement

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A antibodies among children in a Saudi community

ObjectiveTo determine the current seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus in selected group of children aged 1-6 years in Northern borders region, Saudi Arabia, and to identify risk factors for infection.MethodsA cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study of 950 children who attended 10 randomly selected primary health care centers (5 urban and 5 rural) was done. Parents of all children were subjected to a questionnaire including sociodemographic and housing environmental data. The determination of anti-HAV antibodies was carried out by ELISA-test.ResultsThe prevalence of HAV-IgG was 33.8% overall, 35.5% among males and 32.0% among females with no statistically significant difference. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increasing age, rural residence, non Saudi nationality, and non availability of safe municipal water source were the most important independent predictors for HAV seropositivity in the studied children.ConclusionsThere is a clear decrease in hepatitis A prevalence in the studied children particularly in urban areas and indicates that a transition may be underway to intermediate endemicity and possible shift of the risk to the adult age with increased morbidity. So, we recommend including Hepatitis A in the schedule of routine childhood vaccinations

Vitamin D status, receptor gene BsmI (A/G) polymorphism and breast cancer in a group of Egyptian females

Background: Vitamin D is involved in a wide variety of biological processes including bone metabolism, modulation of the immune response, and regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. The present study aimed to investigate vitamin D status and the genetic polymorphism BsmI (A/G) of vitamin D receptor (VDR) among a group of Egyptian female patients with breast cancer.Methods: The current study included 60 female patients diagnosed as breast cancer (BC) attending Mansoura Oncology Center, Mansoura University, and 60 age-matched healthy control females. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. A polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and fragment analysis were performed to determine the VDR BsmI (A/G) polymorphism.Results: 25(OH) vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the patients with BC (22.1 ± 10.9 ng/ml) compared to controls (41.2 ± 11.22 ng/ml) (p 6 0.001). Vitamin D deficiency- insufficiency was reported in 76.7% of BC patients and 20% of the controls (P 6 0.001, OR = 13.1, 95%CI = 5.5 31.4). Bb genotype was statistically higher in the BC patients than in the healthy controls (P 6 0.001). 81.2% of BC patients were of Bb genotype, 10.9% of BB genotype and 4.3% of bb genotype, while in controls, 33.3% for each genotype. No statistically significant difference in allele frequency was observed between the two studied groups. Carriers of Bb genotype had 4.6 times increased risk of developing breast cancer (95% confidence interval of 2.0–10.3) when compared to other genotypes.Conclusion: A significant association exists between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of breast cancer. B allele or Bb genotype of VDR may be a susceptibility risk factor for BC development

Sociodemographic factors in Arab children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Introduction: There is a critical gap in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) research with respect to manifestations of the condition in developing countries This study examined the influence of sociodemographic variables on the severity of autistic symptoms and behavioral profile in Arab children. Methods: The total study sample comprised of 60 Arab children (38 boys and 22 girls) from three Arab countries (22 Jordanians, 19 Saudis and 19 Egyptians). The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was based on DSM-IV criteria supplemented by direct observation according to the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and assessment of Intelligent Quotient (IQ). Finally, parents rated their child on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results: It was found that the housewives and Saudi parents described more autistic symptoms and externalizing behavior problems. A significant negative correlation was found between IQ and each of ISAA, CBCL Internalizing and Externalizing problems scores. Conclusion: The study concluded that the clinical presentation of ASD may be shaped by cultural factors that are likely to help to formulate specific diagnosis and intervention techniques in Arab children with ASD. Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 13:6

Pattern of vigorous physical activity among Egyptian freshmen university students

Objectives. To highlight the pattern of vigorous physical activity among freshmen university students and to evaluate the association between sociodemographic factors, perceived barriers, support factors, sedentary behaviours and body mass index. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on Mansoura University students at the beginning of the academic year 2008 - 2009. A total of 500 freshmen students were selected by systematic random sample. Participants responded to the short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire and other questions. Results. The study revealed that the prevalence of vigorous activity among the students was 9.8% (N=49) versus 90.2% (N=451) for mild and moderate activity. Body-related barriers were significantly higher among those reporting mild and moderate activities as shyness from others when doing exercise (6.9% versus 0.0%) and shyness from body looks in front of people (14.6% versus 4.1%). Lack of equipment was also perceived to be a barrier (31.0% versus 16.3%), for those doing mild to moderate versus vigorous, respectively. A significantly higher proportion of persons doing vigorous activity reported the influence of support factors such as perceived benefit for health (53.1% versus 33.7%), encouragement from others (53.1% versus 30.4%) and participation from others (51.0% versus 23.9%), compared with the more sedentary students. The majority of both groups spent <4 hours daily in front of a computer, but the overall proportion was significantly higher among those only reporting mild and moderate activity (88.0% versus 63.3%). Conclusion. The prevalence of most of the barriers studied was higher among those reporting mild and moderate activities and support factors were higher among those reporting vigorous activity. These results highlight the importance of environmental factors, social norms and intra-personal factors in determining the pattern of activity among Egyptian freshmen university students.SAJSM, vol 23 No. 4 201