Sanaa El-Fedawy’s research while affiliated with Mansoura University and other places

We carried out a retrospective study on student voluntary blood donors in Mansoura University, Egypt. Serum samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 as well as syphilis. About 7% of students had > 1 of the diseases tested for. Prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2, and syphilis were 4.3%, 2.7%, 0.0% and 0.05% respectively. Significantly more males than females tested positive for HBsAg. Anti-HCV was significantly higher among rural than urban students. Volunteer student donors are a good source of safe blood. With proper selection of donors, the number of blood units discarded can be minimized.

Learning about menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls. This study among 664 schoolgirls aged 14-18 in Mansoura, Egypt, asked about type of sanitary protection used, frequency of changing pads or cloths, means of disposal and bathing during menstruation. Girls were selected by cluster sampling technique in public secondary schools in urban and rural areas. Data were collected through an anonymous, self-administered, open-ended questionnaire during class time. The significant predictors of use of sanitary pads were availability of mass media at home, high and middle social class and urban residence. Use of sanitary pads may be increasing, but not among girls from rural and poor families, and other aspects of personal hygiene were generally found to be poor, such as not changing pads regularly or at night, and not bathing during menstruation. Lack of privacy was an important problem. Mass media were the main source of information about menstrual hygiene, followed by mothers, but a large majority of girls said they needed more information. Instruction in menstrual hygiene should be linked to an expanded programme of health education in schools. A supportive environment for menstrual hygiene has to be provided both at home and in school and sanitary pads made more affordable.

Learning about menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls. This study among 664 schoolgirls aged 14-18 in Mansoura, Egypt, asked about type of sanitary protection used, frequency of changing pads or cloths, means of disposal and bathing during menstruation. Girls were selected by cluster sampling technique in public secondary schools in urban and rural areas. Data were collected through an anonymous, self-administered, open-ended questionnaire during class time. The significant predictors of use of sanitary pads were availability of mass media at home, high and middle social class and urban residence. Use of sanitary pads may be increasing, but not among girls from rural and poor families, and other aspects of personal hygiene were generally found to be poor, such as not changing pads regularly or at night, and not bathing during menstruation. Lack of privacy was an important problem. Mass media were the main source of information about menstrual hygiene, followed by mothers, but a large majority of girls said they needed more information. Instruction in menstrual hygiene should be linked to an expanded programme of health education in schools. A supportive environment for menstrual hygiene has to be provided both at home and in school and sanitary pads made more affordable. Résumé L'hygiène menstruelle est un volet essentiel de l'éducation sanitaire des adolescentes. Cette étude a demandé à 664 étudiantes âgées de 14 à 18 ans de Mansoura, Égypte, le type de protection sanitaire qu'elles utilisaient, à quelle fréquence elles en changeaient, comment elles s'en débarrassaient et si elles se baignaient pendant leurs règles. Les filles, sélectionnées par échantillonnage par grappes dans des écoles secondaires publiques de zones rurales et urbaines, ont répondu en classe à un questionnaire anonyme, autogéré et à réponses ouvertes. Les facteurs prédisposant à l'utilisation de serviettes hygiéniques étaient l'accès aux médias à la maison, l'appartenance à une classe sociale élevé et moyenne et la résidence urbaine. L'utilisation de serviettes hygiéniques s'accroît peut-être, mais non dans les familles rurales et pauvres, et l'enquête a constaté d'autres manques, comme le fait de ne pas changer de serviette régulièrement, et de ne pas se baigner pendant les règles. Le manque d'intimité était aussi un problème important. Les médias représentaient les principales sources d'information sur l'hygiène menstruelle, suivis des mères, mais beaucoup de filles souhaitaient davantage de renseignements. Il faut lier les cours d'hygiène menstruelle à un programme scolaire élargi d'éducation sanitaire. L'environnement doit apporter un soutien en matière d'hygiène menstruelle à la maison et à l'école, et les serviettes hygiéniques doivent devenir plus abordables. Resumen El aprendizaje sobre la higiene menstrual es un aspecto vital de la educación en salud para las adolescentes. En este estudio realizado con 664 colegialas entre 14 y 18 años de edad, en Mansoura, Egipto, se preguntó acerca del tipo de protección sanitaria utilizada, la frecuencia con que se cambian las toallas, los medios de desecharlas y los baños durante la menstruación. Las niñas fueron seleccionadas por la técnica de muestreo por conglomerados, en escuelas secundarias públicas de zonas urbanas y rurales. Los datos se recolectaron por medio de un cuestionario anónimo, autoadministrado durante horas de clase. Los previsores importantes del uso de toallas sanitarias fueron: disponibilidad de los medios de comunicación en el hogar, clase social alta y media, y residencia urbana. El uso de toallas sanitarias posiblemente esté aumentando, pero no entre las niñas de familias rurales y pobres. Además, se encontraron deficiencias en otros aspectos de la higiene personal, como no cambiarse de toalla con regularidad o de noche, y no bañarse a diario durante la menstruación. La falta de privacidad fue un problema importante. Los medios de comunicación fueron la fuente principal de información sobre la higiene menstrual, seguidos de las madres, pero la gran mayoría de las niñas dijeron que necesitan más información. La enseñanza sobre la higiene menstrual debe vincularse a un programa ampliado de educación en salud en las escuelas. Se debe crear un ambiente de apoyo para la higiene menstrual tanto en el hogar como en la escuela, y las toallas sanitarias deben distribuirse a precios más asequibles.

To examine the prevalence, determinants, impact and treatment practices of dysmenorrhoea, we studied 664 female students in secondary schools in urban and rural areas. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. About 75% of the students experienced dysmenorrhoea (mild 55.3%, moderate 30.0%, severe 14.8%). Most did not seek medical advice although 34.7% treated themselyes. Fatigue, headache, backache and dizziness were the commonest associated symptoms. No limitation of activities was reported by 47.4% of student with dysmenorrhoea, but this was significantly more reported by students with severe dysmenorrhoea. Significant predictors of dysmenorrhoea were older age, irregular or long cycle and heavy bleeding.

A study of 113 blind people in Mansoura, Egypt highlighted the causes and risk factors for blindness, and health and social care needs of the blind. In two-thirds of cases, blindness occurred before 10 years of age. Risk factors for blindness were reported by more than half the study population. Congenital causes accounted for almost half the cases. The commonest causes of bilateral blindness were corneal opacities, cataract and glaucoma. Almost three-quarters of causes were avoidable. Health and social care for this group was inadequate and more than half would benefit from further management. Legislation for keratoplasty, a registry of blind people, and a nationwide community survey on the epidemiology of blindness are needed urgently.