Breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge among sixth year medical students in Jordan

Background: Previous reports have demonstrated that counseling about breastfeeding can improve the rate and initiation duration of breastfeeding. However, those medical students are ill-prepared for this role. It is unclear whether medical students would provide the knowledge and skills necessary for effective breastfeeding promotion or not in Jordan. The aim of this study was to identify breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge among 6th year medical students in their final year at The Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST).Methods: A 28-item self-administered questionnaire; containing three sections: knowledge (13 items) attitude (7 items) and demographic (3 items), were distributed randomly to medical students. The random sample consisted of 234 medical students who were in their final year. The questionnaire assessed both breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge.Results: The results were explained taking into consideration gender and being a parent. Mean attitude's score for participants without children was 46.7 as compared to 44.0 for those with children. The results showed similar negative attitude toward breastfeeding among both male and female participants regardless of having children or not (p=0.35). This means that there were no significant difference in attitudes toward breastfeeding among male and female students whether they are having children or not. On the other hand, the mean knowledge score was 22.9 for male participants while it was 21.55 for female participants, indicating some degree of breastfeeding knowledge among participants (p=0.035). However, having personal experience with breastfeeding (self or partner) did not increased breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge (p=0.35 vs. p=0.93, respectively).Conclusions: Medical students have significant educational needs in the area of breastfeeding management and breastfeeding education. Further targeted training is needed to improve both breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge

Predictors of severe hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency following exposure to oxidant stresses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a genetic enzymatic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and is a major health problem in Jordan. We studied factors that may predict severe hemolysis in children with G6PD deficiency. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients with low G6PD activity admitted to a teaching hospital between 1996 to 2007. We collected demographic data, details of sign and symptoms, history and type of fava bean ingestion, blood and Rh group, history of neonatal jaundice, history and type of drug use, abdominal pair at admission and the results of tests for hemoglobin, white blood cells (WBC), and hepatic function. We classified patients into mild and severe groups based on hemoglobin levels at admission. RESULTS: Of 428 children with G6PD deficiency, 79 (18%) were severe cases and 349 (82%) patients with milt disease. There were no statistically significant differences in most factors between the two groups. Factors tha achieved statistical significance for severe hemolysis included younger age (P<.05), male gender (P<.05), highe alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P<.05), presence of fever at admission (P<.01), presence of vomiting during the attack (P=.006), and a negative family history for G6PD deficiency (P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: Severe hemolysis can be predicted during hemolytic episodes in children with low G6PD by young age, male gender, a negative family history of G6PD deficiency, the presence of fever and vomiting and a high ALP