Familial and sociological correlates of behavioral deviance among juvenile boy delinquents in Alexandria.

Sixty five institutionalized juvenile boy delinquents aged 11 to 21 years were screened for behavioral deviance in relation to familial and social variables. Data of behavioral deviant children was compared with similar data available for the group of children not identified by the screen. Results of this study revealed statistical associations between behavioral deviance among juvenile boy delinquents and most of the studied familial/social backgrounds and morbid parent-child relationships. Knowledge about these issues should be applied in understanding and planning the treatment of the delinquent.     

Vegetable-transmitted parasites among inhabitants of El-Prince, Alexandria and its relation to housewives' knowledge and practices

In the present study, stool samples were obtained from 575 individuals from El-Prince, a suburban village of Alexandria, Egypt to detect helminthic eggs and protozoan cysts. The results showed that, 35.7% of the sample had at least one vegetable-transmitted parasite, the highest percentage (46.4%) was in the age group of 6 to less than 15 years. The nematode Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent in 18.4%, followed by the protozoan Giardia lamblia in 10.4%. Fasciola eggs were found in 2.4% of samples. Knowledge and practices of housewives concerning Fasciola and its source of transmission and methods of washing leafy vegetables was obtained through house-to-house interviews with 303 housewives. Knowledge that leafy vegetables were a source of Fasciola infection was indirectly proportional with better in younger housewives and those of secondary or higher education. More than half of the interviewed housewives (57.7%) washed leafy vegetables under running tap water and 32.7% soaked them in tap water. Only 9.6% soaked them in water mixed with a substance as vinegar, lemon juice or common salt. Only 5% of those who were infected with vegetable transmitted parasites washed vegetables by soaking in water with an added substance compared to 19.6% of parasite free housewives. Most of those adding a substance to soaking water (89.7%) used vinegar. Results of the study revealed that a serious and consistent effort through public health activities is essential to educate housewives about vegetable-transmitted parasites, their transmission and ways of prevention.     

AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among juvenile delinquents in Israel.

Fifty-six Israeli adolescents under the care of probation officers were interviewed about their AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The results suggest that these adolescents put themselves at risk of HIV infection. A substantial proportion of the sample demonstrated a lack of knowledge on issues relevant for AIDS prevention. The majority held negative attitudes toward condoms but were also sexually active, and some had experienced unprotected sexual intercourse, anal sex, and drug use. Most of the respondents, moreover, showed a lack of competence in handling situations that pressure them to act unsafely. Implications for practice are discussed.     

智护训练对足月窒息新生儿行为神经发育水平的影响

目的 通过对足月窒息新生儿进行智护训练,观察其行为神经发育水平的变化。方法 选择2018年1-12月在某三级医院新生儿病房住院的足月窒息新生儿79例,按随机数字表法,分为对照组(n=39)和智护组(n=40)。对照组采用常规护理,智护组在对照组基础上加用智护训练。对两组新生儿在生后第3、7、14、28天进行新生儿行为神经测定(NBNA)评分。结果 生后第3天,两组新生儿NBNA评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);第7、14、28天时NBNA平均分智护组新生儿均高于对照组,且智护组NBNA结果异常比例也均低于对照组,但第7天时两组差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05),14、28 d时两组差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 对足月窒息新生儿长期坚持进行智护训练,有益于其行为神经发育水平的进步。     

Assessment of health and nutritional status of infants in relation to breast feeding practices in Karmouz area, Alexandria

Infants are most precious part of nation's life. Infant health is a reflection of the health of the mother and it gives an indication of the health of the adult population of the future. The present work was designed to study the health and nutritional status of infants in Karmouz area in Alexandria as well as the effect of breast feeding practices on the health status of infants. Accordingly, a house to house survey was conducted through cluster sampling technique. The total sample amounted to 396 mothers and 409 infants. Data were collected about infants health status and their feeding practices. Weight and length were measured for all infants. Stool samples were collected and examined. The results revealed that 55.3% of infants had acute respiratory tract infections (ARI); 16.4% had bronchitis and 4.9% had pneumonia, 44% of the infants suffered from diarrhea, 13.2% were infected with parasites, Gardia lamblia was the most commonly found parasite (9.0%). High proportion of infants was found to be stunted (22.7%), 8.6% were wasted and 7.6% were underweight, 40.3% of mothers were in partial practice level. Infants below six months of age who received solid foods at three months or less had a significantly higher percentage of diarrhea (70.6%) compared to 51.5% among those of late weaning (four months or later). The diarrhea was significantly more common among infants aged 12 - < 18 months with about two times of risk relative to those aged < 6 months. A significantly higher risk of diarrhea was found for infants of bottle--or complementary feeding (OR = 2.05, 2.07 respectively, model X2 = 9.71, P < 0.01), in addition the protective effect of breast feeding persisted after adjustment of confounders by multiple logistic regression. High proportion of mothers (63.8%) continued to breast-feed their babies during diarrheal episodes. On the other hand breast-feeding was not significantly protective against the acute respiratory tract infection. Stunting of the infants increases rapidly with age from 12.6% among infants under six months to 30.4% among those aged from 9 - < 12 months. The percentage of stunted infants varied greatly by education of the mothers, it was doubled from 14.7% among those of mothers of high level of education to 28.9% of non educated mothers with a significant high risk of 2.31 times. The repeated attacks of diarrhea throughout the two years of life was still significantly associated with stunting even after adjustment of confounders by multiple logistic regression;, those with three attacks or more had about three times of risk relative to those without the disease (OR = 2.56, 95% CL = 1.12-5.81, model X2 = 19.03, P < 0.01). Health education program should be emphasized to all mothers to improve their knowledge and practice about breast-feeding and its importance in prevention of diarrhea.     

Assessment of health related quality of life among school children with cancer in Alexandria

In recent years, the necessity of measuring health related quality of life (HRQOL) among children with cancer has been stressed. The aim of the present work was to assess the HRQOL in terms of physical, emotional and social functioning, to identify some predictors of QOL and to describe the scholastic achievement and nutritional status among school children with cancer in Alexandria. A cross-sectional study of 215 students with cancer who attended the oncology school health insurance clinic of Sporting Student's Hospital in Alexandria governorate within a period of one month (June 2005) was conducted. Every child was subjected to the Pediatric Oncology Quality Of Life scale to assess the quality of life with cancer. Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured for each child and BMI was calculated. Review of records of each child was done to take the last heamoglobin level. Lymphoma was the most common tumour (34.9%), followed by leukemia (24.2%), brain tumour (13.0%), osteosarcoma (7.9%), and Wilm's tumour (7%). About one third of the sample (36.7%) reported poor QOL which was more evident in the physical domain (54.4%), as compared to 34.4% in emotional domain and 26% in the social domain. Sex (p<0.05), age (p<0.05), complications (p<0.01), place of treatment (p<0.05), place of diagnosis (p<0.05) and treatment (p<0.05) were all significantly associated with QOL. However after adjustment for other variables, poor QOL was more likely among students of younger age, students with complications, and students whose diagnosis was done at the student hospital. About two thirds of the sample (68.5 %) reported poor scholastic achievement, 25.1% were underweight and 87.4% were anemic. Conclusion and recommendations: HRQOL measurement should be done as a routine for all children with cancer in order to identify specific therapies that require modifications in management. More efforts are needed to improve the health care in the student's hospital, especially for young children with cancer.     

Study of the opinion and level of knowledge about AIDS problem among secondary school students and teachers in Alexandria.

The level of knowledge and the opinion about HIV/AIDS problem of 571 students (179 females, 392 males) and 211 teachers (85 females, 126 males) were assessed using an interview-questionnaire. The results explored the little priority given to sex education in Egyptian schools in addition to the very minor role of schools as source of knowledge (about AIDS problem) for students and teachers who revealed much interest towards the problem and wanted to know more about it, reflecting the need for urgent organized health educational programme.     

Assessment of sanitary landfill leachate characterizations and its impacts on groundwater at Alexandria

The total amount of solid waste generated in Alexandria is 2820 tons/d which increases to 3425 tons/day during summer. In the past, 77% of the collected solid wastes was open dumped. The open dumping sites did not have the minimum requirements for pollution control. Following the exacerbation of the problem, the Alexandria Governorate contracted a company to carry out the solid waste management. The contracted company transferred 75% of the daily generated solid wastes to a new constructed sanitary lanfill. The site receives a daily average of 1910 tons. The landfilling is performed by trench method in the form of cells. The produced leachate is discharged into two lined aerated lagoons. The biogas formed from biodegradation of landfilled solid wastes is burned and the produced heat is used for drying the lagoons leachate. The remaining residues are relandfilled. The study aims at assessment of the solid waste sanitary landfill leachate characterization and its impacts on the groundwater. The analysis of the collected data confirms that leachates from the landfill are severely contaminated with organics, salts, and heavy metals. The fluctuations in concentration levels of the different parameters were attributed to aging and thickness of waste layers, stage of decomposition, and re-landfilling of the concentrated residues from the drying lagoons. The concentrations of NH4-N (600 mg/l) indicated that the process of stabilization was still in the initial stages and attributed to the compaction process. The high BOD5 results (28,833 mg/l) indicated that the process of stabilization was in the initial stages which were very slow. The high COD results (45,240 mg/l) can be attributed to the compaction of the wastes which also retards the degradation of the solid wastes. The BOD and COD values indicated clearly severe contamination. The BOD5/COD ratio measured in the current study (0.64) indicated that the leachate of the present study was biodegradable and unstabilized, and required time and favourable conditions for anaerobic biodegradation. Heavy metals were lower compared with what have been observed in other countries. Re-landfilling of the residue after drying the leachate in lagoons and the short time of biodegradation in the landfill site were factors which effected the high strength of most of the parameters concentrations of the leachate. Assessment of groundwater contamination through piezometer wells around the active cells indicated that there was no contamination from the leachate to the groundwater surrounding the site. The study recommended emphasizing the importance of adjusting the biodegradation factors, the monitoring program, the prohibition of disposing heavy metals, determination of the leachate generation rate, and treatment of leachate.     

Cross sectional study of schistosomiasis among military recruits in Alexandria.

A cross-sectional survey for schistosomiasis infection was carried out among 1170 military recruits in Alexandria. Data on prevalence-intensity of infection-subjective symptoms and history of antischistosomal chemotherapy administration were collected from participants. The results confirmed the endemicity of S. mansoni and the low prevalence of S. haematobium infection in Delta region (33.1% and 1.1%) respectively. Previous antischistosomal chemotherapy administration was associated with decreased geometric mean egg count inspite the increase in prevalence. It is recommended that mass chemotherapy with praziquantel of this young active adult group would be of beneficial effect in decreasing schistosomiasis morbidity among an important large section of the community.     

Prevalence of juvenile chronic arthritis in school children aged 10 to 15 years in Alexandria

The study was conducted using a cross sectional design to determine the prevalence of Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) among 10 to 15 years old school children in Alexandria, and to develop (if possible) a tool for screening children for arthritis. The study included 1500 children selected by using a multistage stratified random sample of students enrolled in the primary and preparatory schools in Alexandria Governorate. The results of this study indicated that the prevalence of JCA was 3.3 per 1000. Also a simple tool, composed of some questions, could effectively identify children with JCA. However, clinical examination supported by a history from the child provides the best reliable means of diagnosis. The present study recommended the use of community rather than hospital based surveys for estimating the true prevalence of the disease.     

Serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis among primary school children in Alexandria.

The present study was carried out on a primary school children of El-Max area, west of Alexandria to assess their serological status to VL using IFAT. The sample composed of 96 pupils (53 males and 43 females) aged 6-11 years. Blood drops were collected on whatman No. 3 filter paper for the serological test (IFAT). Positive reaction was obtained in 6.2% of the examined pupils. The positivity rate was insignificantly higher among the age group (8-10) years. Sex proved to have no effect on the percentage of positive reactors.     

Observations on the relation of environmental and behavioral factors to the occurrence of otitis media among Indian children.

Studies were conducted to assess the relation of environmental and behaviora factors to occurrence of acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM) among four populations of Indian children in Arizona. Episodes of ASOM were recorded for 1,428 children observed during the first year of life. Data obtained on the households and premises of these children included number of persons in the household, number of sleeping rooms, type of water supply and sewage disposal, type of heating and cooling, availability of electricity, method of infant feeding, distance to a health facility, and mother''s education. The rates of ASOM for the four populations ranged from 1.1 to 2.2 attacks per child and differed significantly from each other, with one exception. The differences between populations apparently were not related to any of the factors evaluated. Additional analyses to evaluate the association of each factor with occurrence of ASOM included (a) a comparison of rates among children living in homes having each factor with rates among children living in homes lacking the factor, (b) a comparison of the frequency of each factor in homes of children who had no recorded attacks of ASOM with the frequency in homes of children who had three or more attacks (high-risk children), and (c) an evaluation of the relation between frequency of encounters for ASOM and the environmental factors. Results did not indicate that any environmental or behavioral factor observed was consistently or strongly associated with either the incidence of ASOM or the frequency of attacks. Similarly, no differences were apparent in the frequency of adverse environmental conditions in homes of infants with contrasting rates of ASOM. Rates of ASOM during the first year of life were not associated with either the presence or the absence of adverse environmental conditions.     

Assessment of psychosocial functioning and its risk factors in children with pectus excavatum

Background  

Psychosocial functioning is poor in patients with pectus excavatum (PE). However, a comprehensive understanding of this issue does not exist. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of psychosocial problems as associated with PE, as well as to identify its risk factors.     

Assessment of upper extremity role functioning in students.

BACKGROUND: Upper extremity symptoms associated with use of computers and other upper extremity activities are common in students. Research on these disorders requires psychometrically sound measures of health-related student role function; no such measure is available currently. METHODS: Based upon input from students and clinicians, we developed a 10-item scale to measure student health-related role function. The measure was administered as part of a survey of 193 undergraduates at one university. A follow-up survey was administered 1 month later. The student health-related role function questionnaire was assessed for internal consistency, ceiling effects, convergent and discriminant validity, and responsiveness to self-reported change in functional status. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of students who were given the survey completed it and 65% completed a follow-up survey 1 month later. The new measure was reliable (Cronbach's alpha 0.87). Forty-six percent of respondents reported "no difficulty" on all items of the health-related student role function measure while 64% reported "no difficulty" on all items of a generic upper extremity functional status measure. This finding indicates that the new measure was better able to detect functional limitations; it had a less prominent ceiling effect. The new measure had moderately high correlations with measures of symptom severity and pain, documenting convergent validity. It distinguished students who utilized clinician services, medications, or academic accommodation from students who did not utilize these resources, documenting discriminant validity. The measure was responsive to self-perceived change, as demonstrated by a highly significant association (P < 0.0001) between changes in score over a 1-month follow-up and students' perceptions of whether they had improved in functional abilities after the month, deteriorated or remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: The student health-related role functioning measure is reliable, valid and responsive to change. It is an appropriate measure for research on upper extremity symptoms in students.     

Evaluation of ventilatory threshold and its relation to exercise habits among Japanese

Objective  

The aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic exercise levels, expressed in terms of ventilatory threshold (VT), in a Japanese population and explore the relationship between VT and exercise habits in this population.     

Use of a monophasic, low-dose oral contraceptive in relation to mental functioning.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Minulet, a new low-dose oral contraceptive on mood in two groups and to compare the effect with a control group of women not taking oral contraceptives (OC). The women participating were between 16 and 45 years of age. They completed the Amsterdam Mood Questionnaire (AMQ) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) three times. They were filled in before treatment started, after taking Minulet for one month and then again after three months. The questionnaires were filled in by a group of 200 women who had not taken OC before (starters), and by a second group of 370 women who were already taking OC (switchers). A group of 140 women who did not use any OC during the study served as a control group. These women also filled in the same questionnaires, both at the start, and after one and three months. As far as the AMQ was concerned, the switchers appeared in the initial measurement to have significantly higher scores (that is to say, a worse mood) for "tiredness", "depression", "moodiness", "anxiety" and "anger", than those of the starters and the control group. Moreover, the switchers had reduced scores (that is to say, an improved mood) on the AMQ-scales during their use of Minulet compared to their initial use of oral contraceptives. The scores of the starters and the control group on the AMQ-scales remained unchanged on all three measurements. It can be concluded from this that these groups felt as well as they did before.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)