Pharmacoepidemiological study of self-medication in adults attending pharmacies in Alexandria, Egypt

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the extent and pattern of self-medication among adults, to identify their knowledge and practice concerning the purchased drugs and to calculate prescribing and purchaser care indicators. Following WHO methods, 35 pharmacies were randomly selected from districts in Alexandria city, Egypt. Of 1294 clients interviewed at these pharmacies, 1050 (81.1%) purchased self-medication; the commonest reason given was a belief that the condition was minor. The most frequently dispensed drugs were those for the respiratory system. The mean number of drugs per encounter was 1.10, mean cost LE 7.29 and mean dispensing time 2.53 minutes. Purchasers' knowledge and practice regarding the purchased drugs were poor.

Device-related nosocomial infection in intensive care units of Alexandria University Students Hospital

We studied the magnitude and determinants of device-related nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICU) and identified the predominant microorganisms involved. Sputum, urine, blood cultures and chest X-ray were taken from each patient on admission and on appearance of any sign/symptom of infection. Out of 400 patients admitted to 3 units during the study, 45 (11.3%) developed nosocomial infections. The most important determinants of infection were previous admission to an ICU, whether in the same or another hospital, and duration of stay. Overall, 38 patients developed 43 device-related nosocomial infections (1.13 episodes per patient). The main infectied association with invasive procedures were ventilator-associated pneumonia followed by catheter-related urinary tract infection and bloodstream infections.

Reproductive health of married adolescent women in squatter areas in Alexandria, Egypt

Through a house-to-house survey, 455 married adolescent women [< 20 years] and 455 married women aged 20-45 years from squatter areas in Alexandria were interviewed. Determinants of early marriage were consanguinity, illiteracy and unawareness of reproductive health. Of the currently pregnant adolescents, 22% were receiving antenatal care compared with 40% of the older women. Family planning methods were currently being used by 39% of the adolescents and 63% of the older wives. Determinants of non-use were: adolescence, illiteracy and previous miscarriage/stillbirth. There is a need to increase public awareness of reproductive health and change the behaviour of both groups of women in this under-privileged sector.

Reproductive health of married adolescent women in squatter areas in Alexandria, Egypt

Through a house-to-house survey, 455 married adolescent women (< 20 years) and 455 married women aged 20-45 years from squatter areas in Alexandria were interviewed. Determinants of early marriage were consanguinity, illiteracy and unawareness of reproductive health. Of the currently pregnant adolescents, 22% were receiving antenatal care compared with 40% of the older women. Family planning methods were currently being used by 39% of the adolescents and 63% of the older wives. Determinants of non-use were: adolescence, illiteracy and previous miscarriage/stillbirth. There is a need to increase public awareness of reproductive health and change the behaviour of both groups of women in this under-privileged sector.

Reproductive tract infections among married women in Upper Egypt

In a house-to-house survey using cluster sampling, 1344 married women from urban and rural areas of Upper Egypt [Minia, Assiut and Sohag] were interviewed and examined to study the magnitude and determinants of reproductive tract infections. Overall prevalence was found to be 52.8%, with the most prevalent forms being Candida albicans [28.0%], Trichomonas vaginalis [8.7%], Aspergillus species [7.4%], streptococci [4.6%] and Chlamydia trachomatis [4.2%]. Multivariate analysis identified certain groups of women at high risk of developing reproductive tract infections [those currently using an intrauterine device, those who regularly practised internal vaginal washing]. Discriminant analysis showed that symptoms were of low discriminating value. There is a great need to increase community and women’s understanding of reproductive tract infections.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among school children in Alexandria, Egypt: a prospective epidemiological study

The aim of this work was to study the epidemiologic features of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) among basic education students in Alexandria, including the demographic and clinical profiles as well as risk factors for RHD development. A stratified random sampling technique was used to allocate 5465 school children in the six educational zones of Alexandria. Clinical RHD cases were confirmed by using chest X-ray, ECG and echocardiography. Factors related to occurrence of RHD were studied using a case control design. Thirty four RHD cases (with an estimated prevalence of 6.2/1000 students) were diagnosed. Low socioeconomic status, chronic tonsillitis, positive family history of acute rheumatic fever/RHD and paternal consanguinity were significantly associated with the occurrence of RHD. Almost all previously diagnosed cases were enrolled in a prophylaxis program, with a defaulter rate of 31%. More than half of the identified cases had moderately severe valvular lesions. We recommend the implementation of an educational program targeted to both parents and teachers; the training of upgrading of school health physicians, and the standardization of secondary prophylaxis programs nationwide, with emphasis on assurance of compliance.

Continuing medical education needs regarding AIDS among Egyptian physicians in Alexandria, Egypt and in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

A study was carried out on two groups of Egyptian physicians to assess their continuing medical education (CME) needs regarding AIDS. The first group comprised 330 physicians working in Alexandria, Egypt, in Mother and Child Health Care Units, School Health Units and Health Offices. The second group included 144 physicians working in Primary Health Care Centres in the Asir Region, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The demographic and socio-cultural background of both groups was similar. The results revealed similar deficiencies in their knowledge about the disease, especially modes of transmission. These results indicate the urgent need to develop an AIDS-specific CME programme to deal with erroneous ideas. Lectures and periodicals ranked first as the preferred educational strategy.

A second controlled field trial of a serogroup A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in Alexandria

The encouraging results of an earlier controlled field trial of the serogroup A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the prevention of clinical disease prompted this study, the aim of which was to evaluate further the effectiveness of another lot of this type of vaccine, the duration of immunity, and the effectiveness against meningococcal carriage. A controlled field trial was carried out in early 1973 on 176 646 schoolchildren 6-15 years of age, of whom half received the serogroup A polysaccharide vaccine and the other half tetanus toxoid as a control. The incidence of cerebrospinal meningitis caused by serogroup A meningococci was 89% lower in the immunized group than in the controls for one year only. With regard to its effect on carriage, the vaccine was found to reduce to less than half the rate of new acquisition of serogroup A meningococci during the period immediately following immunization. The duration of the carrier state was also shortened in the immunized group.