Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association

BACKGROUND: Several recent studies have highlighted the need for more evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccines on the reproductive system and menstruation. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection and vaccines on menstrual symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey utilizing face-to-face interviews from January 1 to 31 March 2022 was conducted in the city of Al-Karak in southern Jordan. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, medical and reproductive history, the contraceptive method used if any, menstrual cycle (MC) status, previous medical and drug history, and the impact of infection and vaccination on the MC...

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in smartphone usage globally. Cyberchondria (CYB) is characterized by excessive Internet searches for health information. Smartphone addiction is constantly rising among medical students together with CYB as a collateral emerging risk, yet there is limited research available on the topic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study explores the rising phenomenon of smartphone addiction and its potential role in CYB among medical students in seven Egyptian universities...

BACKGROUND: Inequitable gender norms are increasingly seen as a risk to health and well-being. Although adolescence represents a critical phase of development before adulthood, there is limited understanding about adolescents' perception of gender norms in Egypt. Adolescents' nonconformity with stereotypical gender norms is suspected to increase their exposure to bullying behavior. This study aimed to explore the adolescents' perception of gender norms - especially towards romantic relations and stereotypical gender traits and roles - and its association with bullying behavior among school children...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive decline is one of the aging health problems that strongly affects daily functioning and quality of life of older adults and threatens their independence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment (CI) among community-dwelling elderly in Egypt and the contribution of socioeconomic status to inequality in cognitive impairment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involved 470 community-dwelling elderly aged 60 years or older living in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt...

BACKGROUND: The escalating emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted human life due to the ever-increasing morbidity, containment measures, and the associated emotional distress. This study examined the influence of COVID-19-related measures on the lifestyle behaviors of adults living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: The study recruited 638 participants through convenience sampling in Jeddah and Taif cities, Saudi Arabia. Demographic characteristics and COVID-19-related information were collected through an anonymous self-reported electronic questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to dust in textile mills adversely affects workers' health. We collected epidemiological data on textile workers suffering from respiratory diseases and assessed work absence associated with illnesses in Faisalabad, Pakistan. METHODS: We recruited 206 workers using multistage sampling from 11 spinning mills in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The data were collected using 2-week health diaries and face-to-face interviews. The data pertains to socio-demographics, occupational exposures, the state of the workers' health, and other attributes...

BACKGROUND: According to Islam's teachings, women are religiously exempt from fasting during pregnancy if a woman is concerned about her health or that of the fetus. This study assesses the intentions of pregnant women to fast during Ramadan and evaluates the contribution of items derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting these intentions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Arabic on a convenience sample of 181 pregnant women in Lebanon using a mixture of in-person (46), telephone (31), and online recruitment (104) techniques from February to April 2020...

A notable decrease in conventional cigarette smoking has been witnessed on a global scale. However, this decrease has been accompanied by an equally striking global increase in the consumption of alternative tobacco products (ATPs), namely e-cigarettes and midwakh in the Arabian Gulf region. A literature review was used to outline the chemical composition of these two ATPs and review their impacts on health. The study was conducted using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, MDPI, and WorldCat. The literature search included terms such as "e-cigarettes," "midwakh," "dokha," "heath impacts," "psychological effects," "social influences," and "cigarette smoking" with emphasis on literature from the Arabian Gulf region...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Stigma is a sign of social disgrace occurring within public relations, and it is linked with many health conditions including diabetes. Stigma could worsen the disease course, reduce treatment adherence, and affect the quality of life of diabetic patients. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of diabetic stigma among patients with type 2 DM. METHODS: In this analytic cross-sectional study, data collection was performed from June 1, 2022, until November 1, 2022, et al...

BACKGROUND: Provider bias is a main barrier that extensively violates the right of free family planning method choice. Egypt is one of the countries that shows skewness in its method mix. Provider bias and insufficiency of alternative methods are identified as potential factors underlying this phenomenon which contributes to high unmet needs and discontinuation rates. Provider bias may be influenced by cultural beliefs and societal trends and is usually overlooked as a possible cause of this skewed method mix...

BACKGROUND: According to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), UK, common audiovestibular symptoms of COVID-19 include dizziness, tinnitus, and otalgia. The pathogenesis of otologic disorders ranges from direct damage to the inner ear structures to immune-mediated damage. Since the start of the pandemic, the prevalence of audiovestibular symptoms linked to COVID-19 has not been thoroughly investigated in Egypt. Our objective is to study and analyze the prevalence of the audiovestibular symptoms in the Egyptian population with history of COVID-19 infection...

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused the death of millions of people and affected the lives of hundreds of millions worldwide. The WHO recommendations aimed mainly to reduce transmission, minimize infection, and get people vaccinated. Nevertheless, opinions and attitudes about the disease varied. In this study, we evaluated personal attitudes and practices of a cohort of an educated Syrian population, after several waves of infection with COVID-19 and the release of different types of vaccines...

BACKGROUND: Bakery products are important food snacks consumed by people of all ages and economic groups. The growth of unwanted microorganisms that deteriorate products such as bacteria, moulds, and fungi in these foodstuffs may offer risks to consumers' health and generate considerable economic losses. This work aimed to assess the microbiological quality of some packed and unpacked bread products in Alexandria, Egypt. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study involved 168 local and branded bakery products that were collected randomly from 2 districts in Alexandria...

BACKGROUND: Improper healthcare waste management practice is alarming in developing countries because resources are inadequate and waste management is often delegated to poorly educated and untrained laborers. This study aimed to compare the pre-KAP versus post-KAP towards the waste management program for nurses and housekeepers. In addition, it aimed to explore possible factors affecting the pre- and post-KAP in Mansoura Emergency University Hospital, Egypt. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-three newly employed nurses, housekeepers, and those who need refreshment training as nominated by head nurses and link occupational health and safety nurses in the hospital were recruited for the study...

BACKGROUND: Seat belts might save people's lives in car accidents by preventing severe collision damage and keeping passengers safe from critical injuries. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of seat belt use among drivers and passengers. METHODS: The databases of PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and Google Scholar were searched from the beginning of 2000 to late December 2020 to identify studies that investigated the prevalence of seat belt use among drivers and passengers...

BACKGROUND: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is a major public health problem. The clinical importance of OBI stems from the fact that it can be transmitted to healthy individuals at extremely low viral load levels. Additionally, immunosuppression has the potential to trigger viral replication, which can result in life-threatening liver decompensation. Despite several studies examining the prevalence of OBI, the pooled prevalence of OBI in Egypt remains unknown, particularly among blood donors and high-risk individuals, to whom intervention should be targeted...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The steel industry is one of the noisiest industries, which can predispose workers to hearing loss. In Egypt, the demand for steel is increasing due to the construction of new infrastructures as bridges, flyover roads, buildings, and towers; however, little is known about the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among steel workers. Understanding the distribution of the affected workers is crucial for planning prevention strategies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of occupational NIHL among Egyptian steel workers and identify its correlates...

BACKGROUND: Measuring perception of patient safety culture among pharmacists working in community pharmacies is crucial to identify opportunities and areas that require improvement. The aim of this work is to measure patient safety culture among pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Cairo. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacists working in community pharmacies in the center and south regions of Cairo. The Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture (PSOPSC), developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was used to collect data...