Rural Areas Of Egypt Research Articles

Clinical outcome of pediatric Hodgkin’s disease in upper Egypt

9035 Background: To assess clinical outcome of chemotherapy and involved field radiotherapy in all stages of pediatric Hodgkin’s Disease in rural areas of Egypt treated at Menya oncology centre which is located 300km south the capital. Methods: Between April 2000 and November 2005, 27 previously untreated patients were investigated, treated and analyzed for remission and survival. Results: There were 21 males and 6 girls with a median age of 11 years, 29.6% were less than 10 years, 70.3% had advanced stage disease (IIB-IV), bulky mediastinal mass in 19 cases spleen involvement in 6 cases, bone marrow aspirate was free in all cases, bone marrow biopsy was not done. patients with stage I and IIA received 2 courses of EOPA (etopsid, vincristine, prednisone and doxorubicin), patients with stage IIb and IIIa received 2 courses of EOPA and 2 courses of ECOP (etopsid, cyclophophamide, vincristine and prednisone), while patients with stage IIIb and IV received 2courses of EOPA and 4 courses of ECOP, All patients received involved field radiotherapy according to stage. Complete remission was achieved in 96.2%. Progressive disease in 1 (3.7%) which required change line of therapy. Out of the 27 patients 3 (11.1%) have relapsed (17, 22 and 25 months) post completion of chemotherapy and were treated with another line of chemotherapy. The 2 years DFS was 90.9% with 95% of CI (73%-100%). Treatment was given outpatient, with no supportive therapy or toxic deaths and no secondary malignancy from etopsid Conclusions: This regimen provides high rate of durable remission in rural areas of Egypt with limited resources (drugs availability and supportive measures). No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Changing pattern of hepatitis C virus spread in rural areas of Egypt

To identify patterns of HCV spread in the Nile Delta of Egypt. Residents in a Nile Delta village were invited to participate in a cohort study of HCV infection. Risk factors for past or current infection were identified at cohort intake using generalized estimated equations models. Attributable fractions were calculated for all independent risk factors. The prevalence of HCV antibodies increased from 2.7% in those <20 years of age to more than 40% in males aged 40-54 years. The peak in HCV prevalence in the 40-54 year age group corresponds to the aging of the cohort of children infected through schistosomiasis intravenous treatments in the 1960s-70s (accounting for 12.4% of all HCV infections observed today among adults). Following this initial founding event, the HCV epidemic has spread in the community through iatrogenic factors, and particularly injections (37.9% of the overall attributable fraction in adults). In children, however, no iatrogenic factors were associated with increased risk of infection, suggesting a change in the pattern of HCV spread. While HCV infections in adults could be attributed to iatrogenic factors, and particularly injections, infections in children could not be explained by similar routes of transmission.

Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children in a rural area of Egypt: the results of dietary assessment and biochemical assay

Vitamin A status was evaluated among a cohort of preschool children (mean age 43 months) pertinent to a traditional society in rural Egypt. The Helen Keller International food frequency questionnaire, the 7-day 24-h dietary recall method and serum vitamin A concentrations were the criteria used for the evaluation. Mean values of 280 and 382 retinol equivalents (RE) were the daily estimates of vitamin A intakes among male and female children, respectively. Animal foods made up 39 and 54% of the total vitamin A intake among male and female children, respectively. The afore-mentioned estimates of total vitamin A intakes were 58 and 81%, respectively, of the FAO/WHO requirements (35 RE/kg). Children from high socio-economic class had significantly higher (P < 0.05) mean vitamin A intake compared with the respective mean intake obtained with poor children. Serum vitamin A concentrations correlated significantly with the respective vitamin A intakes. A 10-week vitamin A intervention trial using either pharmaceutical vitamin A preparations or a food-based strategy consisting of carrot jam led to significant improvement in the growth velocity of the beneficiaries compared with the control group.

Effect of Sex, Size, and Age of Commensal Rat Hosts on the Infestation Parameters of Their Ectoparasites in a Rural Area of Egypt

Effect of Sex, Size, and Age of Commensal Rat Hosts on the Infestation Parameters of Their Ectoparasites in a Rural Area of Egypt

Seasonal Studies on Commensal Rats and Their Ectoparasites in a Rural Area of Egypt: The Relationship of Ectoparasites to the Species, Locality, and Relative Abundance of the Host

Seasonal Studies on Commensal Rats and Their Ectoparasites in a Rural Area of Egypt: The Relationship of Ectoparasites to the Species, Locality, and Relative Abundance of the Host

Seasonal Studies on Commensal Rats and Their Ectoparasites in a Rural Area of Egypt: The Relationship of Ectoparasites to the Species, Locality, and Relative Abundance of the Host

The present study was carried out in 3 villages, namely Kafr Ayoub Soliman, Kafr Ibrahim El-Aidi, and El-Sa'adat, Sharqiya Governorate, Egypt. A total of 519 rats was collected from the 3 study sites: 46.6% Rattus rattus, and 53.4% Rattus norvegicus. A total of 20,643 ectoparasites was recovered from R. rattus: 33.3% mites, 33.8% fleas, and 32.9% lice. From R. norvegicus a total of 40,997 ectoparasites was recovered: 28.9% mites, 31% fleas, and 40.1% lice. Three common mite species were recovered from both rat hosts, i.e., Ornithonyssus bacoti, Radfordia ensifera, and Laelaps nuttalli. Three common flea species were also recovered from both rat hosts, i.e., Echidnophaga gallinacea, Leptopsylla segnis, and Xenopsylla cheopis. Polyplax spinulosa was the only dominant louse species that infested both rat hosts. Rats did not show a definite breeding season, and the seasonal rat indices were generally low in different study sites. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of each of mites, fleas, and lice in both rat species. The total general indices of mites and fleas, on the other hand, was significantly higher in R. norvegicus. The general index of X. cheopis was high and ranged between 5.9 in R. rattus and 14.5 in R. norvegicus. Season-related changes were observed in the general index of each of L. segnis infesting both rat species and R. ensifera and O. bacoti infesting R. norvegicus. The prevalence and general indices of some ectoparasites showed differences related to the locality of their rat hosts. Seasonal changes in the general indices of some ectoparasites paralleled seasonal changes in the relative abundance of their rat hosts.

Shigella Carriers among Non-Diarrhoeal Children in a Rural Area in Egypt

Shigella Carriers among Non-Diarrhoeal Children in a Rural Area in Egypt

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a community in the nile delta: Population description and HCV prevalence

This report describes a cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in a rural Egyptian community in the Nile Delta. One half of the village households were systematically selected and examined by questionnaire and testing sera for anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Blood samples were obtained from 3, 888 (75.4%) of 5,156 residents >/=5 years of age; an additional 111 samples were obtained from children younger than 5 years. Overall, 973 (24.3%) of 3,999 residents were anti-HCV-positive, and the age- and gender-adjusted seroprevalence was 23.7%. Anti-HCV prevalence increased sharply with age, from 9.3% in those 20 years of age and younger to >50% in those older than 35 years. Currently or previously married individuals were more likely to be seropositive than those never married, controlling for age (Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.6). Of the 905 anti-HCV-positive samples tested, 65% were also positive for HCV RNA. Active schistosomal infection was not associated with anti-HCV status; however, history of antischistosomal injection therapy (reported by 19% of anti-HCV positives) was a risk for anti-HCV (age-adjusted risk ratio = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.2, 1.5). This study, the largest community-based survey to date, supports earlier reports of high levels of anti-HCV among adults in rural areas of Egypt, although many of those who are seropositive will not have active liver disease. The large reservoir of HCV infection in the community provides an opportunity to investigate risk factors for transmission, the natural history of infection and effectiveness of preventive methodologies, and raises concern about the prospect of an increasing incidence of chronic liver disease in the coming decades.

Diet and cooking practices in Egypt: Exploration of potential relationship to early-onset colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer in the seventh most common cancer in Egypt. However, the proportion of persons under age 40 who have colorectal cancer is 5 to 6 times that of western countries. High fiber and low fat intake represented by a high-vegetable, low meat diet is characteristic of other age groups in Egypt. The objective of this study was to describe diet and cooking practices of 204 apparently healthy Egyptians between 20 and 40 years of age who were living in urban or rural areas in Egypt. We collected information about diet and methods of cooking red meat (frying, grilling, and baking). The results showed that participants in the study consumed a diet high in fiber, calcium, and vitamin C. The diet was low in red meat intake. Approximately 17 to 64% of the people in urban and rural areas did not eat red meat at least once a week that was fried, grilled or baked. More than 95% of the study population reported eating fresh vegetables more than once a day. Total fat intake was on the average 31% of kilo-calories in the urban region and 23 % in the rural region. Fiber consumption ranged from 37 grams per day in the urban region to 50 grams per day in the rural region. The eating habits of the Egyptians with high grain, fruit, and vegetable consumption, which are typically protective, may suggest that diet may be a vehicle for contaminants in these foods which may increase risk of colorectal cancer. Thus, diet should be included in future studies of colorectal cancer in Egypt to further understand this relationship.

The determinants of fertility in rural Egypt: a study of Menoufia and Beni-Suef governorates.

SummaryHigh levels of fertility in rural areas of many developing societies are an issue of considerable concern to the scientific community and to those interested in public policy. This paper reports on the determinants of fertility in two rural areas in Egypt: Menoufia and Beni-Suef governorates. There are important differences in fertility between the two areas; the total fertility rate is 7·88 in Beni-Suef and 6·03 in Menoufia. These aggregate differences are the result of even larger differences between the two areas in the proximate determinants of fertility, particularly age at marriage, breast-feeding and contraceptive use. Much of the difference in breast-feeding behaviour can be explained by differences in the educational composition of the two populations; the level of female education in Menoufia is considerably higher than in Beni-Suef. However, differences in contraceptive use cannot be explained by differences in the socioeconomic composition of the two populations. The differences may be the result of greater institutional support for contraceptive use and lower fertility in Menoufia, where intensive family planning and maternal health programmes have been in operation for several years.

Prevalence and Causes of Blindness in Urban and Rural Areas of Egypt

Prevalence and Causes of Blindness in Urban and Rural Areas of Egypt