by Hanan S. Ez–Elarab, Samar S. Ahmed and Abdullah S Abdelazem
Original Research
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) prevalence is increasing now a day in all countries. It is a major emerging clinical and public health problem worldwide and more specifically in Egypt. Pre-diabetes is a clinical stage before diabetes. Life style changes in this stage could prevent or delay developing of diabetes with its morbid and fatal complications. Aim of the study: was to assess pre-diabetes and diabetes frequency and identify associated risk factors among Ain-Shams and Suez university students. Subjects and Methods: 854 university students were surveyed by a self-assessment diabetic score followed by measurement of blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference and random blood glucose. For those with diabetes screening score ≥ 4 or finger-stick test strip levels equal or above 140mg/dL fasting blood glucose were done. Results: Nearly quarter (24.8%) of the studied sample were at risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes by diabetic scoring and (8%) of them by random blood glucose testing. Demographic factors as female gender, urban residence and life styles as daily stress exposure, physical inactivity and smoking of cigarettes or shisha, in addition; high blood pressure and obesity were accompanied with high risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Conclusion: Awareness of university students and other population segments to measure either random or fasting blood glucose and modify life styles risk factors of pre-diabetes is utmost important to prevent or delay developing of diabetes mellitus.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 36-40. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-6
Pub. Date: February 11, 2020
5032 Views858 Downloads
by Nader M. Al Qerafi, Momen Elshazley and Abdulrahman M. Al Qerafi
Original Research
Background: Occupational skin diseases (OSD) are frequently encountered causes of morbidity and disability among health care workers (HCWs). This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of OSD among Saudi HCWs and to characterize the possible causative factors for OSD. Methods: A total of 361 HCWs from eight governmental hospitals were included in this study. A cross sectional self-administered questionnaire survey was employed. Then, an analytical case control study design was adopted to identify the possible risk factors for OSD. Results: In this study, the estimated prevalence of OSD among Saudi HCWs was 32%. One hundred sixteen HCWs had either skin eczema (29 cases; 25%) or itchy skin wheals (Urticaria) (87 cases; 75%) caused by activities related to their jobs. In eczema cases, hands were the most affected sites (68.1% of cases). Majority of HCWs diagnosed with hand eczema were nurses (59%) compared to 15.4% of physicians and less than 10% of dentists and lab technicians. Intensive care unit, medical and surgical wards HCWs recorded the highest prevalence 25%, 24% and 19.8% respectively. Hand eczema was significantly higher among females than males HCWs. All affected cases were markedly exposed to wet environment at daily work such as using gloves, cleaning agents or frequent hand washing as well as preparing food and care of children under 4 years at home. Conclusion: HCWs are highly susceptible for OSD with a need for discovery of novel biomarkers that will be helpful for diagnosis, monitoring and prevention of OSD.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 28-35. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-5
Pub. Date: February 09, 2020
8231 Views1145 Downloads1 Likes
by Abdel-Mahamoud Adam Yaya, Giguisto Caroline, Mahamat Nadjib Abderahim, Brunet Houdard Solene, Djamalladine Mahamat Doungous, Henri Marret, Grammatico-Guillon Leslie and Emmanuel Rusch
Original Research
In Chad, population growth is estimated at 3.5% per year; a consequence of high fertility and low use of contraceptives (3%). The objective of this study was to describe the use of contraceptives and to identify the factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods among women of childbearing age. A cross-sectional study was conducted with women and with health professionals. It took place over 3 months (December 2015 to March 2016) on the basis of a questionnaire, tested and validated, administered during face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression measured the association between contraceptive use and place of residence (urban / rural), marital status, age, education, religion and ethnicity. A total of 314 women and 17 health professionals were interviewed. 35.9% of women had no contraception. The rate of natural contraceptive methods was 28.7% and modern 25.2%. Age (≤ 19 years) (p <0.001), place of residence (p = 0.04) and Arab ethnicity (p = 0.12) were significantly associated with non-use of contraception modern by women. In Chad, particularly in the health facilities of Abéché, socio-demographic factors, information and awareness-raising on modern contraception and spousal support are indicators to be taken into account when targeting public health interventions.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 22-27. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-4
Pub. Date: January 27, 2020
1848 Views671 Downloads
by Mahendra Pal, Gemechu Berhanu Kerorsa, Lencho Megersa Marami and Venkataramana Kandi
Original Research
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a gram-positive bacterium that has a greater impact on animal and human health by causing various diseases. S. aureus is present as normal flora of the skin and mucous membranes of both humans and animals but can cause disease when it gets the chance to invade either due to trauma or because of impaired immune responses of the host. Different virulence factors are involved in the mechanisms of pathogenesis of S. aureus which include surface proteins, enzymes, toxins, and others. These virulence factors play an important role in invasion, colonization, and survival of S. aureus in the host to cause staphylococcal diseases. Infections of S. aureus pose a major public health threat owing to its ability to cause mild to severe/life-threatening human diseases. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become a pathogen of increasing importance in hospitals (nosocomial infection) and the community. It can be mainly transmitted to humans by the consumption of food of animal origin. Foods associated with outbreaks of staphylococcal food poisoning include meat and meat products, poultry, and egg products, milk and dairy products, salads, cream-filled bakery products, and sandwich fillings. Additionally, it has great economic importance as it causes different diseases in animals. MRSA shows resistance to different antibiotics including penicillin, methicillin, vancomycin, and others owing to the presence of different antibiotic resistance genes and other resistance mechanisms.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 14-21. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-3
Pub. Date: January 19, 2020
4712 Views1003 Downloads2 Likes
by Nilüfer Acar Tek, Hande Mortaş, Sabriye Arslan, Tuğba Tatar and Süleyman Köse
Original Research
Objectives: To determine the physical activity levels of young adults using the pedometer (pedometer step count-PSC), International Physical Activity-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and physical activity diary (PAD) methods, and to compare these methods with one another.Methods: This study was conducted in 551 individuals aged between 18 and 30 years. A questionnaire that includes socio-demographic characteristics, physical activity habits, and anthropometric measurements of the individuals was administrated. Three instruments were used: PSC, PAD, and IPAQ-SF. Results: The three different physical activity evaluation instruments were shown positive correlation (p < 0.01). According to BMI, 13.2% of individuals were underweight; 12.9% were overweight; and 73.9% had healthy weight. There was no significant difference in physical activity level between BMI groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight) according to all evaluation methods. The majority of the individuals were active according to PSC (50.1%) and IPAQ-SF (59.7%). However, 61.2% of the individuals were sedentary according to the PAD. In addition, 48.5% of the individuals met the target of 10000 steps/d and 38.9% of them met the target of being active (PAL ≥1.7) while 13.4% of them met the target of 30 min/d moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity. Conclusions: The percentage of individuals met daily physical activity goal is low in young adults according to the different evaluation methods. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether any of the changes brought about by the transition to university life are also physical inactivity.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 7-13. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-2
Pub. Date: January 14, 2020
5066 Views614 Downloads
by Nadia Abdelkareem and Hashim Suleiman
Original Research
Globally and day by day diabetes mellitus is growing and by 2035 diabetes patients will become 592 million according to international diabetes federation and 80% of them live in low and middle-income countries. In Sudan, the prevalence of diabetes is about 14.5% according to Sudan Household Survey report 2006, but diabetes in Sudan is associated with poor glycemic control and high prevalence of complication according to latest studies and this may be related to lack of knowledge and way of life. The study is done to show the effectiveness of diabetes education at primary health care level to produce changes in diabetes patients in their knowledge and lifestyle, which is very important for diabetes management. This study aimed to explore socio-demographic factors and disease factors of type 2 diabetes patients attending diabetes mini clinics at primary health care centers in Khartoum state-Sudan in 2015 and to determine the effect of diabetes education in knowledge and self-care practice of type 2 diabetes patients attending these facilities. The study was quasi-experimental study done at eleven diabetes mini clinics. Seventy eight of type 2 diabetes patients participated in this study, seventy of them continued till the end of the study with drop rate 10%, pre –post questionnaire was used, data were entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for window version 20, percentage, mean and standard deviation and paired T. test were used to analyzed the data. The level of statistical significance was set at P. value < 0.05. Diabetes education had positive effect on Knowledge (P. value = .001), diet control and medication taking, P. value = .033 and .002 respectively. The study determined positive effect of diabetes education at primary health care centers on knowledge, self-care practice of diabetic patients. Moreover, the results of this study can be taken in account in policies making to improve the outcome in treating diabetes patients.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2020, 8(1), 1-6. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-8-1-1
Pub. Date: January 02, 2020
2053 Views797 Downloads