Measures Including Health Education Research Articles

The Effect of Psychological Support Intervention Based on Structure-Process-Result Three-Dimensional Quality Assessment on Maternal Role Adaptation and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Exercise Compliance of Women in Spontaneous Labor.

Objective A case-control study was conducted to explore the effect of psychological support intervention based on structure-process-result three-dimensional quality assessment on maternal role adaptation and pelvic floor rehabilitation exercise compliance. Methods 110 parturients who delivered naturally in our hospital from January 2019 to October 2021 were randomly divided into the control group and the study group. Patients in the former group received routine nursing measures, while patients in the latter group received psychological support intervention based on structure-process-outcome three-dimensional quality assessment (intervention group). Psychological intervention measures include health education, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, collective psychological intervention, and happiness therapy. The Edinburgh postpartum depression (PPD) scale and general self-efficacy scale were adopted before intervention, on the day of discharge, and 42 days after delivery. Meanwhile, the mother's role adaptation questionnaire was adopted 42 days after delivery. The PPD, the change of self-efficacy, the function of the pelvic floor, the role adaptation of mothers, and the compliance of pelvic floor rehabilitation exercise in the control group and the intervention group were analyzed. Results There was a significant difference in the EPDS score between the two groups at 42 days after delivery. There was a significant difference in the incidence of depression 42 days after delivery between the two groups (P < 0.05). The score of pelvic floor function in the two groups after intervention was higher than that before intervention, and that in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The score of self-efficacy in the two groups after intervention was higher than that before intervention, and that in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The role adaptation of mothers in the intervention group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The compliance rate of pelvic floor rehabilitation exercise in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Psychological support intervention based on structure-process-result three-dimensional quality assessment can effectively enhance the sense of self-efficacy, pelvic floor function, maternal role adaptation, and pelvic floor rehabilitation exercise compliance of parturients and can effectively reduce the incidence of PPD and play a positive role in the prevention of PPD.

A study of clinical pattern and seasonal variation of dermatoses in children: Contemplating findings for family physicians.

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Pediatric skin disorders are different from the adult type in their presentations, types, treatment and prognosis. Their presentation varies from place to place.Aim:To study the different clinical pattern and seasonal variation of dermatoses in children attending a multispecialty hospital in Uttar Pradesh.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted among 640 children who attended the OPD of multispecialty hospital over a period of one year. All children up to 10 years of age with cutaneous presentations were included in the study.Results:Study showed that there was a male preponderance among the study participants. According to the age group, school-aged children (6-10 years) constituted the highest percentage (53%) followed by toddlers or pre-school children (41%). The most common skin conditions were infections (47%) followed by eczematous group (31%) of disorders. Among the infections, the most common infections were fungal - 35.64% (107) followed by parasitic infection (31%), viral infections (20%) and then bacterial infections (12.5%). Out of total eczematous dermatoses, Atopic dermatosis was maximum in number (61; 30%). This was followed by pityriasis Alba (47; 23.15%), and acute eczemas (32; 15.76%). Third most common dermatosis was Appendageal disorder (33; 5.15%). It included 15 cases of miliaria i.e. approximately 45.45%. Seventeen (2.65%) children reported for treatment of different kind of nevi. Pigmentary disorders were seen in 16 cases (2.5%). Three nutritional disorders were also seen. Season wise, most of the cases were seen in monsoons (June to October).Conclusions:Dermatoses is very common in children in the western region of Uttar Pradesh. The largest group was formed by infections followed by eczemas. Few cases increased in number depending upon the weather like fungal and bacterial infections, acne, miliaria in summers and xerosis, scabies in winters. This variation strongly suggests that weather has a very important role. Thus various measures including health education programs to be initiated to control and prevent the sudden spread of the diseases. Thus, Primary care providers and family physicians being the first responders should always keep in mind the seasonal variations while dealing with dermatosis in children.

Spatial analysis of Toxocara spp. eggs in soil as a potential for serious human infection

Toxocara spp. cause one of the most widespread soil-transmitted helminthic infections worldwide. In both developed and developing countries, soil contamination with Toxocara eggs is considered as a major threat to public health. A total of 515 soil samples from 89 sampling sites were collected from different locations of public health such as Wastelands and Streets, public parks, and marginal areas. The soil samples were examined for Toxocara eggs using a centrifugal-floatation technique utilizing a saturated sodium nitrate solution. centralization of positive soil samples in the province was studied by Spatial Statistics Techniques such as Average Nearest Neighbors and Spatial Autocorrelation and Kernel Density Function Toxocara spp. eggs were found in 94 (18.25 %) out of 515 samples collected from the studied areas. According to the results obtained, marginal areas are often contaminated with eggs of Toxocara. Consequently, preventive measures including health education should be implemented to reduce the potential risk of this parasitic infection.

Prevalence of Needlestick Injuries among Healthcare Workers in Rizgary Teaching Hospital

Needlestick injury in healthcare settings is a global issue. Despite being recognized for many years, needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) continue to present a risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens for health care works (HCWs). The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of needlestick injuries among HCWs in Rizgary Teaching Hospital and to identify the causes of needlestick injuries. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 76 healthcare workers in Rizgary Teaching hospital; there were a total of 45 males, 31 females. The data collections were administrated using face-to-face interviews to ensure a good response rate and to ensure all questions were answered. Most (52.6%) needlestick injuries occurred in wards with syringe needles being the most common causative tool; surgery ward was the most prevalent site of needlestick injuries occurrence (42.1%). The percentage of acupuncture was high and needles were the most common cause, and most injuries occurred during the re-use of the needles. The study recommends several measures to prevent and reduce acute injuries among HCWs; these measures include health education, behavior change, safer devices, and an educational program to educate these HCWs.

A study on Chromium induced occupational dermatoses among the construction workers attending tertiary care hospital in Coimbatore

Introduction: Occupational contact dermatitis is the most frequent dermatoses. It is evident that Chromium causes contact dermatitis in construction workers. This study is conducted to assess the prevalence and pattern of contact dermatitis among construction workers. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective hospital based clinical study, conducted among construction workers who presented with skin manifestations from Oct 2016 to Jan 2017. Data including demographic details, clinical findings were collected. Patch test done and readings were taken according to ICDRG criteria. Results: Fifty patients were enrolled in our study. The prevalence of contact dermatitis in construction workers is 2.6% and prevalence of Chromium induced contact dermatitis is 50%. Age group predominantly affected was 41-55 years. The male to female ratio is 3.5:1. The mean duration of exposure to cement was 13.02years. The minimum and the maximum time taken for the contact dermatitis to occur after exposure were 2 weeks and 40 years respectively. The median period for the onset was 10 years. Thirteen patients had acute eczema, 29 had chronic eczema and 9 had subacute eczema. Nintey two (92%) had allergic contact dermatitis and 8% had irritant contact dermatitis. The most common allergen positive by patch testing was Chromium [50%] followed by ppd [10%], parthenium [6%] and pb [4%]. Conclusion: Our study concludes that Chromium (hexavalent) in cement causes allergic reactions in 50% of construction workers. Control measures include health education, safety measures, health surveillance and reduction of Chromium VI concentration by adding 0.35% ferrous sulfate. Keyword: Contact dermatitis, Chromium, Patch test.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Salmonella, Shigella, and Intestinal Parasites and Associated Factor among Food Handlers in Dilla University Student Cafeteria, Dilla, Ethiopia.

Background Food-borne disease is mostly caused by unsafe food handling and processing as well as poor hygienic practice. Recently, it is a worldwide and local burden to the human health. It is estimated that about one-third of the world population is affected by food-borne diseases annually and become a global public health problem. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and associated risk factors of Shigella, Salmonella, and intestinal parasites among food handlers in Dilla University, Southern Ethiopia. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to September 2018/2019. A structured questionnaire was used for the collection of data on sociodemographic characteristics. Parasite and bacterial identification, as well as susceptibility testing, was done using standard parasitological and bacteriological procedures. Results Of the total 220 food handlers included in the study, 38.6%, 9.5%, and 3.2% were positive for intestinal parasites, Salmonella, and Shigella species, respectively. A. lumbricoides (11.4%) was the predominant parasite isolated followed by E. histolytica (7.7%). From the total Salmonella isolates, serogroup D was the most frequent isolate and from the total Shigella species, Shigella flexneri was the predominant isolate. In this study, through irregular medical checkups, those who drunk unpasteurized milk and ate raw meat were significantly associated with intestinal parasites. Both Salmonella and Shigella species were highly resistant to ampicillin (81%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (>70%). Salmonella isolates are highly sensitive to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone, while Shigella is highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. MDR was recorded in 71.4% of all bacterial isolates. Conclusion The presence of a high prevalence of intestinal parasites, Salmonella, and Shigella species that were resistant to the commonly prescribed drugs is a treat to the children and the community at large. Therefore, measures including health education, improvement of safe water supply, sanitation facilities, and continuous monitoring of microbiological and antimicrobial surveillance are crucial.

Mobile health technology (WeChat) for the hierarchical management of community hypertension: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

PurposeThe prevalence of hypertension continues to increase worldwide, raising an urgent need for novel and efficient methods for controlling hypertension. As the Internet and smartphones become more popular, their multiple functions and large user base make mobile health (mHealth) technology a potential tool for hypertension management. We aim to evaluate the use of mHealth technology to improve blood pressure and self-management behavior in people with hypertension and prehypertension.InterventionThe mHealth intervention measures include health education, behavior promotion, group chatting and long-term blood pressure monitoring hierarchically delivered via WeChat application among 242 participants. The frequency, intensity and content of the hierarchical intervention are determined based on the cardiovascular risk stratification of the intervention subjects.Study designThis cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out in two subdistricts in Guangzhou, China, among 492 smartphone users with hypertension or prehypertension, from August 2018 to September 2019. The intervention group received hierarchical intervention through WeChat for six months, while the control group received usual care in the community healthcare center during this period. Indicators are measured at three time points for each group, and a telephone follow-up is planned for two years after the intervention. The primary outcome is systolic blood pressure; secondary outcomes include BMI, CPAT score, improvements in behavior and diet, score of self-efficacy and self-management. Feasibility is evaluated by intervention participation. The cost-effectiveness is evaluated by ICER.ConclusionThis study aims to evaluate the effect of the WeChat-based hierarchical management mode on improving blood pressure and self-management behavior in population with hypertension and prehypertension, based on health-related knowledge, self-efficacy and medication adherence. If successful, the management mode will serve as a feasible, economical and efficient hypertension management mode suitable for the community.Clinical trial identifier: ChiCTR1900023002

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum,Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in the Maraj? Archipelago, Brazilian Amazon

Background: The dynamics of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Treponema pallidum and Chlamydia trachomatis infections were investigated in four municipalities of the Marajó Archipelago.Methods: Epidemiological characteristics and detection of specific antibodies were investigated in 1,208 resident persons. Persistence was defined by the presence of HBsAg and viral RNA.Results: Prevalence of antibodies was 30.9% (C. trachomatis), 8.9% (T. pallidum), 12.4% (anti-HBc/IgG) and 1.3% (anti-hepatitis C virus). Vaccination coverage for hepatitis B virus was 19.8%. C. trachomatis infection was significantly associated among women, 28 to 37 years old. T. pallidum was significantly associated with older age (>68 years), being separated or widowed and illiterate persons. hepatitis B virus was significantly associated with males, 48 to 57 years old and those with low educational level. Consumption of alcoholic beverages and use of illicit drugs were more likely to be infected with C. trachomatis. More than one sexual partner and absence of condoms during sexual intercourse were risk factors for T. pallidum infections.Discussion: The transmission of infections will only be interrupted by the consistent application of measures including health education, routine examination, immediate treatment and recognition of risk factors associated with infections.Conclusion: Severe infectious agents circulate in areas far from large urban centers where population have restricted access to healthcare providers.

Scope and Efficacy of Preventive Measures in Contact Dermatitis

To describe the scope and review the efficacy of interventions to prevent contact dermatitis. Universal measures to prevent contact dermatitis start at the population level with legislation regulating exposure to skin irritants and sensitizers. Primary measures include health education on skin care and protection, use of moisturisers and proper use of protective gloves. The overall epidemiological evidence regarding the efficacy of such preventive measures varies from low to moderate. Secondary prevention comprises the application of specific diagnostic procedures and early intervention. Tertiary prevention measures focus on medical, psychosocial, and occupational rehabilitation of patients with a chronic form. Education on risk factors and skin protection is an essential element at all the levels of prevention. Evidence-based recommendations and international standards for prevention, diagnosis and management of contact dermatitis are available. The low evidence on the efficacy of several primary measures can be due to limitations in study designs and low comparability of the studies. Stakeholders should address shortcomings of the current legislation. Randomised control trials studies including a homogenous assessment of the outcome measure, a longer follow-up and better adjustment for potential bias can enhance the current level of evidence for the efficacy of preventive measures.

Clinico-epidemiological study of an adult mumps outbreak in a naval training establishment

Introduction: Outbreaks of mumps are known in places of high population density because of close contact. Studies on mumps outbreak in adults have rarely been documented in India, although globally an epidemiological shift is noticed in the disease from children to young adults because of vaccination against the disease in childhood. Materials and Methods: This outbreak investigation was conducted at a sailor training center of the Indian Navy. All cases of fever with parotitis, orchitis, or features suggestive of mumps were included in the study. The clinical, epidemiological, and demographic data of all the positive cases were analyzed using a standardized questionnaire and review of medical records. Results: A total of 58 cases reported over 3 months. Forty-two cases were from a single division and 13 cases from the same dormitory as the index case. Parotitis (89.7%) was the most common presentations, and orchitis (13.8%) was the most common complication. The attack rate (AR) within the division was 15.46%, with overall AR of 2.32%. The incidence was 23.2 per 1000 per year. Case fatality rate of the disease was nil. Recommendations: Surveillance, early diagnosis, and prompt isolation remain the key to prevent the transmission of illness during an outbreak. Other preventive measures include health education of recruits and their instructors.

Investigation on current status of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women and exploration of risk factors in some areas of Lhasa City, Tibet

To understand the current status of Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) infection among pregnant women and to explore the risk factors in some areas of Lhasa City, Tibet. From 2015 to 2016, 3 districts (counties) of Lhasa City were chosen as the investigation sites, and 200 pregnant women in each district (county) were selected as the investigation objectives. Meanwhile, 450 pregnant women from Xuzhou, Yangzhou, Wuxi cities in Jiangsu Province were chosen as the control. Then the blood samples of the pregnant women both in Lhasa and Jiangsu were detected by ELISA for TOX antibodies IgG, IgM, and the detection results were analyzed and compared. In addition, the individual information of the pregnant women in Lhasa City was surveyed by questionnaires, and the related risk factors of TOX infection were analyzed. Among 600 pregnant women investigated in Lhasa City, there were 99 pregnant women with positive TOX antibodies, and the positive rate was 16.50%, which was significantly higher than that (5.11%) of the pregnant women in Jiangsu Province (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among the 3 districts (counties) of Lhasa City in the positive rates of pregnant women (P > 0.05). The positive rates of the women who preferred raw meat or had the intimate contact with animal were high. Compared with Jiangsu Province, the infection rate of TOX among pregnant women in Lhasa City is high. Therefore, the comprehensive measures including health education, early examination and treatment should be taken actively, so as to prevent and control TOX infection in this area.

The prevalence of Hymenolepis nana among preschool children of displacement communities in Khartoum state, Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Hymenolepis nana is among the most common intestinal parasitic infections causing a public health threat in poor communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of H. nana infections and associated risk factors among preschool children of displacement communities in Khartoum state, Sudan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2013 in displacement camps, Khartoum state, Sudan. A simple random sample of preschool children from the displacement camps, aged between 1 and 5 years, were included. Information was collected by presenting a questionnaire and taking 500 fresh stool specimens which were examined microscopically for the presence of eggs, using direct saline and formal-ether concentration techniques. The prevalence of H. nana was determined to be 32.6% (163/500), 95% CI (28.5%-36.9%). Infections of H. nana were more prevalent among males than females, and this association was statistically significant (P < 0.001, OR = 2.125, 95% CI = 1.452-3.108). H. nana infections were significantly prevalent among the older age group (2.6-5.0 years) (P < 0.001, OR = 2.909, 95% CI = 1.914-4.420). Approximately 76.7% of infected preschool children had diarrhea and it was significantly associated with H. nana infection (P < 0.001, OR = 9.45, 95% CI = 6.10-14.64). None of the preschool children had access to a clean water supply. No significant association was found between use of latrines and infections of H. nana (P = 0.56, OR = 0.880, 95% CI = 0.73-1.763). There was a high prevalence rate of H. nana infection among preschool children of displacement camps in Khartoum state, Sudan. Being male, aged between 2.6 and 5.0 years, and having diarrhea were identified as important risk factors for H. nana infection. Measures including health education, environmental hygiene, water supply and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the high prevalence of H. nana.

Epidemiology and control of echinococcosis in central Asia, with particular reference to the People's Republic of China

At least 270 million people (58% of the total population) are at risk of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Central Asia including areas of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and western China. The annual surgical incidence rate in Uzbekistan and Tadjikistan has been estimated to be as high as 25–27 cases/100,000 with the highest prevalence reaching 10% (range from 0.8 to 11.9%) in some Tibetan communities in western China. Echinococcus transmission in the region is largely associated with social factors including limited community knowledge of echinococcosis, small-scale household animal production, home killing of livestock, and the feeding of dogs with uncooked offal. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is also endemic in Central Asia and is recognized as a major problem in some Tibetan communities with up to 6% of villagers infected in some villages. In western China, 5–30% of the population are seropositive against E. granulosus antigens, indicating that a large number of individuals have been exposed to the parasite. Although echinococcosis control programs have been initiated in some countries in Central Asia, control efforts are generally fragmented and uncoordinated. Monthly deworming of dogs with praziquantel (PZQ), as a key measure to control the Echinococcus parasites, has been used in western China. However, the approach has proven difficult in local semi-nomadic communities. Additional control measures including health education, domestic livestock animal treatment/vaccination and dog vaccination are needed in CE-endemic areas to accelerate progress.

Prevalence of intestinal parasite, Shigella and Salmonella species among diarrheal children in Jimma health center, Jimma southwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

BackgroundDiarrheal disease continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality among young children in developing countries including Ethiopia. Globally, intestinal parasite, Shigella and Salmonella species remain major contributors to acute enteric infections. The study was aimed at determining the frequency of intestinal parasite, Shigella and Salmonella species identified from diarrheic children at Jimma Health Centre, Jimma south west Ethiopia.MethodsA health institution based cross sectional study was conducted from March to November 2012. A structured questionnaire was used for collection of data on socio- demographic characteristics. Parasite and bacteria identification as well as susceptibility testing was done using standard parasitological and bacteriological procedures.ResultsA total of 260 diarrheal children were included in the study. A total of 129 (49.6%) samples were positive for intestinal parasite, Shigella and Salmonella species. Of these, 107 (41.1%), 6 (2.3%) and 16 (6.2%) samples were positive for intestinal parasite, Shigella and Salmonella species respectively. The dominant isolated parasite was G. lamblia with prevalence of 13.5% followed by A. lumbricoides (11.5%). The least identified parasites were Schistosoma mansoni and Taenia species accounting 0.4% each. Multiple parasitic infections were observed in 19 (7.3%) patients. Shigella species showed hundred percent resistances to ampicillin, amoxacillin, and cotrimoxazole. All Salmonella isolates were resistant against amoxicillin. All Shigella and Salmonella species were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin.ConclusionThe presence of reasonably high amount of intestinal parasite and Salmonella and Shigella species that are drug resistance to the commonly prescribed drugs is a treat to the children and community at large. Therefore, measures including health education, improvement of safe water supply, sanitation facilities and continuous monitoring of microbiological and antimicrobial surveillance is crucial.

Prevalence and related risk factors on smoking among pupils in Shandong province

To study the prevalence of smoking and its influential factors among pupils in Shandong. A multi-stage stratified-cluster random sampling method was used in the survey. 6050 students from 3 different cities of Shandong province were selected as the study population. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and the survey was conducted by trained investigators. The rate of attempting smoking among pupils under study in Shandong province was 6.0% while the current smoking rate was 1.2%. The average age of children who initiated smoking cigarette was 7.8±2.1 with 80.5% of them due to curiosity. 34.7% of them got the cigarettes from their families. In terms of the motivation of buying cigarettes, 74.3% of them claimed that the access to purchase was easy. Data from multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the smoking behavior of pupils was influenced by their familial or surrounding environments. Tobacco control programs on pupils should be strengthened with more powerful control measures including health education.

Factors Related To Dental Caries Among The Patients Attending At The Outpatient Department (OPD) Of Dhaka Dental College And Hospital

Dental caries is one of the most common health problem in the dental practices in both developed and developing countries including Bangladesh. The overall influence of dental caries on the general health of the community is harmful. The main objective of the study was to assess the factors related to dental caries among the patients attending at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Dhaka Dental College and Hospital. The study was carried out during the month of January to June, 2002. Data were collected by the researcher himself with a pretested structured interview schedule from 167 patients selected by systematic random sampling procedure. The study showed that (29.3%) patients were in the age group of 21-30 years. Their mean age was 30.04 years, SD was ±14.60 and age range was 12-72 years. Among the patients, 55.1% were males and 44.9% were females. 76.6% patients were Muslims, 15.6% were Hindus, and only 7.8% were Christians. Regarding the educational level, the maximum (63%) were below HSC education level, only 37% were HSC and above. The patients having more than four affected teeth, maximum (34.3%) were from illiterate mothers. Patients having mother's education HSC and above were nil in this group. The rates of dental caries were high among those who consumed excess sweets and who did not maintain oral hygiene adequately. Majority of the patients knew how dental caries occur and maximum of them thought that dental caries is a preventable disease. The above study showed that no age and sex is without problem. The ignorance, illiteracy, low family income, inadequate practice of oral hygiene, consumption of excess sweets etc. are the major contributory factors for the occurrence of dental caries. As dental caries is a multifactorial preventable disease, proper preventative measures including health education programme should be intensified to minimize the disease. Further study is also needed to assess the status of the problem and to find out the factors related to the disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjdre.v3i1.16590 Bangladesh Journal of Dental Research &amp; Education Vol.3(1) 2013: 16-20 Dental caries is one of the most common health problem in the dental practices in both developed and developing countries including Bangladesh. The overall influence of dental caries on the general health of the community is harmful. The main objective of the study was to assess the factors related to dental caries among the patients attending at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Dhaka Dental College and Hospital. The study was carried out during the month of January to June, 2002. Data were collected by the researcher himself with a pretested structured interview schedule from 167 patients selected by systematic random sampling procedure. The study showed that (29.3%) patients were in the age group of 21-30 years. Their mean age was 30.04 years, SD was ±14.60 and age range was 12-72 years. Among the patients, 55.1% were males and 44.9% were females. 76.6% patients were Muslims, 15.6% were Hindus, and only 7.8% were Christians. Regarding the educational level, the maximum (63%) were below HSC education level, only 37% were HSC and above. The patients having more than four affected teeth, maximum (34.3%) were from illiterate mothers. Patients having mother's education HSC and above were nil in this group. The rates of dental caries were high among those who consumed excess sweets and who did not maintain oral hygiene adequately. Majority of the patients knew how dental caries occur and maximum of them thought that dental caries is a preventable disease. The above study showed that no age and sex is without problem. The ignorance, illiteracy, low family income, inadequate practice of oral hygiene, consumption of excess sweets etc. are the major contributory factors for the occurrence of dental caries. As dental caries is a multifactorial preventable disease, proper preventative measures including health education programme should be intensified to minimize the disease. Further study is also needed to assess the status of the problem and to find out the factors related to the disease.

Medical and Behavioral Problems among Saudi Adolescents.

   World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as young people aged 10-19 years. (1) Globally there are 1.2 billion adolescents, one fifth of world population. Due to present demographic trends their number is increasing. Estimates suggest that approximately 25% of the populations in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are adolescents. (2)     Adolescence is a journey from childhood to the world of an adult, a time of physical, psychological and emotional change. Adolescents are no longer children, but not yet adults. They can put themselves at risk without thinking of the consequences. They get fascinated by many rowdy and thrilling adventures and actions and start living in world of dreams imagining them to be an unbeatable personality.     A study in Riyadh city among adolescents found that overall prevalence of cigarette smoking 12.7% (n=187) among the study sample, the habit is more common in males (19.0%) than females (4.0%). Finding of same study indicate that adolescents males who drive car 45% of them had a car accident. The prevalence of drug use in this survey was 6.4% (10.6% in males and 0.8% in female study subjects), volatile substance was commonly abused among adolescents. (3)     Mental health problems frequently start at this age group. A study carried out in Tiaf Governorate,   Saudi Arabia, revealed that most important problems were anxiety (13.5%), somatic disorders (12.2%) obsession (10.8%), aggression (8.1%), delinquency and depression (4.1%). (4)     Recent evidence indicates that emotional and behavioral disorders frequently lead to poor school performance and dropping –out of school. This wastes education resources and seriously impairs the economic and social potential of such children. (5)     Saudi society is different from western societies in many respects. It is conservative society with strong Islamic values. The pattern of adolescent’s problems is expected to be different from that in the west. For example illegitimate teenage pregnancies are common in western world, but do not exist in KSA.     Most causes of mortality and morbidity in adolescents, such as road side accidents cigarette/ shisha smoking and drug abuse can be prevented by simple measures including health education and counseling. If adolescents are properly cared for and groomed, physically and emotionally at homes and schools, they will enjoy good physical & mental health. School environment and behavior of teachers play a critical role in character building and personality development of adolescents. Importance of school health clinics for health education & counseling has important role.    Antismoking program should be established, including prohibition of the sale and use of cigarettes in public places, along with application of firm traffic laws forbidding adolescents aged less than 18 years from driving. Â

Intestinal parasitosis among Kara and Kwego semipastoralist tribes in lower Omo Valley, Southwestern Ethiopia

Background: Survey of intestinal parasites provides information about the burden of parasites in a community and helps in making decisions for intervention. Nevertheless, such information on the communities living in the Lower Omo Valley is scanty.Objective: To study the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among semi-pastoralist tribes in Lower Omo Valley, Southwestern Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted on Kara and Kwego semi-pastoralist tribes between January and March 2006. Participants in the study were selected randomly from list of huts and makeshift huts using random numbers. Stool specimens were examined microscopically for the presence of parasite eggs or larvae/cystsusing formol-ether concentration method.Results: Nine intestinal parasites were identified: Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia lamblia, Iodamoeba buetschlii, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis and Schistosoma mansoni. The difference in the rates of intestinal parasitic infection between Kara and Kwego is slightlysignificant (p = 0.04), and between females and males within Kara as well within Kwego was not significant (p > 0.05). Only one individual was positive for S. mansoni in each tribe. A single parasitic infection was more prevalent than multiple parasitic infections.Conclusion: Controlling measures including health education are recommended to reduce morbidity and transmission of intestinal parasitic infection among these tribes where health services are at best inadequate for most and entirely absent.

Surveillance of foodborne disease outbreaks associated with consumption of eggs and egg products: Spain, 2002 - 2003

Foodborne disease outbreaks are a public health problem for certain population groups in Spain, because of their magnitude and severity. The foods implicated in these outbreaks tend to be prepared with raw shell eggs, and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis tends to be the causative agent. In Spain, foodborne outbreaks due to consumption of eggs and egg products have not declined since 1998, despite the introduction of numerous prevention measures aimed at addressing this problem. Such measures include health education and making it mandatory for food catering facilities that cook and/or serve meals to replace raw shell eggs with pasteurised egg products when food is prepared without heat treatment and for immediate consumption.