The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association最新文献

Background: Health literacy (HL) is an important maternal factor that is involved in the engagement of a mother and her children with health promotion and preventive activities. Studies have found poor HL in large proportions of the population of both developed and developing countries. This study measures the HL of pregnant women and explores its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 382 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Mansoura district, Egypt, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The Arabic version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-short version (HLS-EU-Q16) was used to assess the HL of the participants.

Results: The study showed that 79.8% of studied pregnant women had limited HL (34.5% insufficient HL and 45.3% problematic HL), and only 20.2% of them had sufficient HL. Limited HL was independently predicted by unsatisfactory income (OR = 6.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2-15.3; P ≤ 0.05), lower than university education (OR = 5.3; 95% CI: 1.6-17.2; P ≤ 0.05), and having unplanned pregnancy (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.6-8.5; P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The majority of pregnant women in this study had limited HL. It was more frequent among women with lower levels of education, insufficient incomes, and unplanned pregnancies. Antenatal care programs should provide services that respond to the HL level and needs of pregnant women.

Background: The Arab region comprises 22 countries located in the Middle East and North Africa, sharing cultural and linguistic ties. Arab countries have continued to lag in terms of biomedical research compared to other nations for several past decades. Cancer is a major public health concern, being the second leading cause of death globally. Given that high research activity on cancer reflects positively on screening programs, awareness, and clinical practice, this article aimed to examine the activity and trend of cancer research in the Arab world between 2005 and 2019.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2019, the number of cancer-related articles published by each Arab country, and regarding 27 different types, was assessed using the PubMed database. Numbers were normalized with respect to each country's average population and average Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Results: Arab countries contributed to 1.52% of total cancer publications. The number of cancer publications has steadily grown since 2005, with the last 7 years alone witnessing 75.69% of the total Arab cancer-related publications. In terms of publications per million persons, Qatar ranked first (393.74 per million persons), while in terms of publications per national GDP, Egypt ranked first (464.27 per billion US dollars). Breast, liver, and colorectal cancers had the highest numbers of all Arab cancer-related publications, while testicular, vulvar, and gallbladder cancers had the least.

Conclusions: This paper pools information and insight for scientists, clinicians, funders, and decision-makers on the actualities and developments of cancer research in the Arab world. Addressing the barriers facing cancer research remains a cornerstone in the plan to improve the Arab world's output and contribution to the field of oncology.

Background: While it is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts including social isolation, restricted travel, and school closures are anticipated to raise the probability of domestic violence (DV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, risk factors, and physical health outcomes of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sample. The data collection tool was based on Sect. 11 of the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, 2014, which is designed to measure domestic violence. We used a Google form-designed questionnaire and distributed the link to social media platforms from May 2020 to June 2020 till the collection of the required sample of 388 completed questionnaires.

Results: The prevalence of every form of DV was 31%. Emotional violence was the most prevalent (43.5%) followed by physical (38.9%) and sexual violence (17.5%). About 10.5% of women reported suffering from all types of violence. The husband was the most common perpetrator of DV. The determinants of ever experiencing any form of DV were low education level of women (OR = 7.3, 95% CI 2.8-18.8), unemployment (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 4-3.5), husband's use of alcohol or substance (OR = 14.4, 95% CI 4.1-50.2), and insufficient income (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 2-3.2). The most common health consequences of DV were injuries such as cuts, bruises, and aches.

Conclusions: The prevalence of ever experiencing any form of DV was 31% which is considered high. Emotional violence was the most common whereas sexual violence was the least common. Identifying the risk factors of DV would support the development and implementation of preventive and screening programs for early identification and offering social support to the victims. Policies should be adopted for the early detection and protection of women suffering from violent behaviors. Access to adequate prompt support and health-care services is crucial in order to decrease the consequences of violence. It is necessary to implement alcohol or drug abuse interventions, preventive measures, and screening programs in families to reduce DV.

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most commonly encountered major public health problems, with a higher prevalence of lower RTIs among children and more generally the poor. The present study aimed to describe the pattern of respiratory tract infections in Egyptian children aged under 5 years and explore possible associations between socio-demographics and nutritional status and types of RTIs.

Methods: Over 6 months beginning in September 2018 (including one winter season), a cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted on a sample of patients with upper and lower RTIs diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically in the outpatient clinics at Cairo University Children's Hospital in Egypt. An interview questionnaire was employed to collect socio-demographic and nutritional data. Heights/lengths and weights were measured and analyzed using the World Health Organization's (WHO) Anthro Plus [Computer Program]. Patients with pneumonia (n = 28) were compared to 97 healthy children of the same age and sex.

Results: The total number of children diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory infections was 611. Malnutrition was present in 12.4% of all children with upper and lower RTIs. Lower RTI and malnutrition were substantially more prevalent among children aged under 2 years (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). The strongest predictor of lower RTI was a younger age (OR 0.797, CI 0.713-0.89, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: At our center, approximately one-third of infections in under-fives were lower RTI. Malnutrition was one of the significant risk factors for lower RTI in children below 2 years. The nutritional status of infants and young children should be improved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and strengthening the healthcare and nutritional counseling available for vulnerable children, particularly in rural regions.

Background: The world is facing an extraordinarily unprecedented threat from the COVID-19 pandemic triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Global life has turned upside down, and that several countries closed their borders, simultaneously with the blockage of life cycle as a result of the shutdown of the majority of workplaces except the food stores and some few industries.

Main body: In this review, we are casting light on the nature of COVID-19 infection and spread, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in food products, and revealing the threats arising from the transmission of COVID-19 in food environment between stakeholders and even customers. Furthermore, we are exploring and identifying some practical aspects that must be followed to minimize infection and maintain a safe food environment. We also present and discuss some World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines-based regulations in food safety codes, destined to sustain the health safety of all professionals working in the food industry under this current pandemic.

Conclusion: The information compiled in this manuscript is supporting and consolidating the safety attributes in food environment, for a prospective positive impact on consumer confidence in food safety and the citizens' public health in society. Some research is suggested on evaluating the use and potentiality of native and chemical modified basic proteins as possible practices aiming at protecting food from bacterial and viral contamination including COVID-19.

Background: Patient safety (PS) is a fundamental component of healthcare quality. Patient Safety Culture (PSC) assessment provides an organization with insight of perceptions and attitudes of its staff related to patient safety. In addition, it is meant to improve performance rather than blaming individuals. This study aimed to assess patient safety culture from the health care staff perspective in El-Shatby University Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The study was conducted at El-Shatby University Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics from November 2020 to January 2021. The target participants were assistant lecturers, residents, and head nurses in charge during the field study period. The number of potential participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (in charge during the period of data collection and working in the hospital for more than 3 months) was 83; the twelve participants who participated in the pilot study were excluded. The total number of participants who agreed to participate in the study was 66 participants (38 residents, 18 assistant lecturers, and 10 head nurses) out of 71 potential participants representing a 92.9% response rate. A structured self-administered questionnaire format adapted from Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) questionnaire was distributed anonymously to the participants. The questionnaire has 42 items measuring twelve patient safety culture dimensions: teamwork within the unit, supervisors' expectations and actions to promote patient safety, feedback and communication about error, organizational learning, communication openness, overall perception of patient safety, hands-off and transitions, teamwork across units, frequency of events reported, management support for patient safety, staffing, and management support for patient safety. Except for two items that are responded on a five-point frequency scale (never, rarely, sometimes, most of the time, and always) the majority of patient safety culture questions are answered on a five-point agreement scale (strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree), with a higher score indicating a more favorable attitude toward patient safety.

Results: The overall average positive percent score was 45.4%. Average positive response percentages to individual items ranged from 28.8 to 81.8%. No domain had an average positive percent score of more than 75%. Out of the twelve dimensions of patient safety culture included in the HSOPSC questionnaire, "the teamwork within unit" domain had the highest average positive percent score (62.1%) among all participants. On the other hand, the "Non-punitive response to error" domain had the lowest score (18.9%). More than half (57.6%) of the participants rated patient's safety at the hospital as acceptable.

Conclusion: Investing in practices tha

Background: Searching for a non-antibiotic therapeutic option such as probiotics is gaining momentum nowadays. We aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial ability of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of selected Lactobacillus strains (with probiotic properties) against clinical isolates of OXA-48-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae separately and in combination with cefoperazone antibiotic.

Methods: Over a period of 8 months, a cross-sectional experimental study involving 590 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates was done. Our study took place at The Specialized Pediatric Teaching Hospital of Cairo University. Of the 590 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from blood cultures, pus, endotracheal aspirates, and pleural fluid, only 50 unrepeated clinical isolates of MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae-producing OXA-48-like detected by CHROMID® OXA-48 (bioMérieux, France) were selected for our study. After determining the minimal inhibitory concentration of CFS of ten Lactobacillus strains and cefoperazone each, the synergistic effect of both was tested.

Results: Among ten tested Lactobacillus spp., a significant increase in the mean value of inhibition zone diameter with CFS of L. helveticus (14.32 mm) and L. rhamnosus (13.3 mm) was detected separately. On the contrary, an antagonistic activity against all tested isolates was detected upon combination of Lactobacilli with cefoperazone (512 μg/ml). The mean value of inhibition zone diameter of L. helveticus CFS+ cefoperazone was (11.0 mm) and for L. rhamnosus CFS+ cefoperazone was (10.88 mm) (p value <0.001).

Conclusion: The antimicrobial efficiency of using CFS of Lactobacillus species separately indicates that these therapies may be a substitute treatment strategy against MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt triggered national preparedness, public engagement, and an integrated response that included social distancing measures, for example, staying at home. We aimed to investigate community awareness of and commitment to complying with the stay-at-home orders in Damietta Governorate, Egypt, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was designed and completed by 500 adult participants from Damietta, Egypt, between April 10 and July 15, 2020. Participants were asked about their sociodemographics, sources of knowledge about COVID-19, awareness of COVID-19 prevention methods, commitment to stay-at-home orders, and their trust in governmental measures, community resources, and emergency services. The participants were classified as stay-at-home responders or nonresponders.

Results: Of the participants, 18.4% responded to stay-at-home orders; the main reasons for leaving home were buying essentials, especially food, and going to work. Compliance was significant among elderly individuals and those with a history of chronic illness. Nonresponse was significant among individuals who were married, working, or had low family income. More than one-third (39.2%) had good knowledge of effective methods of COVID-19 prevention, and the overall accepted knowledge was significantly higher among stay-at-home responders than nonresponders. Their trust in governmental measures, community resources, and emergency services to manage the pandemic was poor-84.6%, 71.8%, and 79%, respectively-with no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions: Participants' compliance with and engagement in stay-at-home orders in Damietta Governorate, Egypt, was poor. Public response to stay-at-home orders is affected by sociodemographics, and the public's trust in governmental measures, community resources, and emergency services was poor. Understanding how social distancing is perceived in Egypt is important to provide public support and improve pandemic disease containment.

Background: Public acceptance, trust, and actual uptake of COVID-19 vaccines are crucial to stem the pandemic. Although roll out of vaccines was high in KSA, the public response was not sufficiently studied. We aimed to investigate knowledge level, acceptance, and trust in COVID-19 vaccination and related predictors among adults in Makkah, KSA.

Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey using a snowballing sample was carried on 507 adult Saudi population living in Makkah city. The survey was developed based on literature search. In the logistic analysis, the dependent variables included acceptance rate and trust in effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, while the independent variables (predictors) were sociodemographics and level of knowledge.

Results: The survey included 507 participants, aged 18-78 years, 55.8% were females, and 36.7% had (or one of their family members) previously been exposed to COVID-19 infection. Their knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination was satisfactory (86.2%) with 71.2% intended to receive COVID-19 vaccination, and 56.4% was confident of the vaccine effectiveness. Vaccine efficacy, duration of protection, schedule of vaccination, and recommendation by authorities may favor their decision to accept or decline COVID-19 vaccines. Good knowledge about vaccines (OR = 2.07; CI: 1.24-3.48 for acceptance and OR = 2.67; CI: 1.58-4.51 for trust), higher educational level (OR = 1.80; CI: 1.07-3.40 for acceptance and OR = 3.59; CI: 2.08-6.21 for trust), previous seasonal flu vaccination (OR = 1.66; CI: 1.09-2.53 for acceptance and OR = 1.91; CI: 1.31-2.79 for trust), female sex (OR = 1.62; CI: 1.1-2.39 for acceptance and OR = 4.15; CI: 2.86-6.04 for trust), and history of COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.57; CI: 1.04-2.37 for acceptance and OR = 1.69; CI: 1.17-2.46 for trust) were among significant predictors for both vaccine acceptance and trust in vaccine effectiveness.

Conclusions: Adult Saudi population in Makkah city showed satisfactory knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination with moderate rate of vaccine acceptance and a relatively low rate of confidence in vaccine effectiveness. Better understanding of public acceptance and trust in COVID-19 vaccines and addressing barriers to vaccination are recommended to improve vaccine coverage and to reinforce some communication characteristics of the current vaccination campaign.

Background: The global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve forming the most impactful health crises in modern history, necessities of individuals adhering to mandatory behavior change that limits the spread of the pandemic. The purpose of the current study is to identify behavioral responses of the health sciences university students during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and determine risk perceptions using the health belief model (HBM).

Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey distributed among health sciences female university students in Riyadh, KSA. The questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics; knowledge about COVID-19 and its preventive measures, risk perceptions, and beliefs using the HBM; and their actual adoption of precautionary measures.

Results: The mean age of 286 respondents was 21.6 years (SD 2.5). They had good knowledge, positive risk perception, and good practice. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents adhere satisfactorily to COVID-19 precautionary behavior. Respondents with positive overall risk perception had around 6 times significantly higher adherence compared to those with negative risk perception. Perceived benefits have higher odds of adherence to COVID-19 precautionary behavior. Similarly, cues to action were a significant determinant of adherence to COVID-19 precautionary behavior.

Conclusions: The constructs of the HBM provided good measurement of risk perception and the respondent students had good knowledge. Yet, significant gaps were shown between COVID-19 perceived risks and the students' actual practice of personal hygienic measures, particularly hand hygiene. To put an end to the present COVID-19 and its upcoming waves, it is highly recommended to direct COVID-19 training programs specifically tailored towards university students.