Insight into hazards and control of transfusion-transmitted infections in Egypt: A narrative review.

Blood transfusion is a critical life-saving medical intervention, but it carries the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) that can lead to serious consequences. TTIs include viral, bacterial, parasitic, and prion infections, transmitted through asymptomatic donor blood, contamination of stored blood products, or transfusion-related immunosuppression. Recognized global agents posing challenges to blood safety include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Syphilis, etc. Emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis E, and others present additional risks. The residual risk of TTIs, representing the likelihood of infected donations passing screening tests, varies globally. High-income countries generally show lower prevalence rates than low-income countries. In Egypt, the estimated prevalence rates for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis markers among the donors are 0.23 %, 0.76 %, 2.33 %, and 0.24 %, respectively. In Egypt, specific residual risk estimates are scarce, but prevalence rates for key infections highlight existing challenges. The World Health Organization promotes a global blood safety strategy, advocating for national blood systems, voluntary non-remunerated donors, and quality-assured testing. Despite these measures, the establishment of a haemovigilance system which is critical for monitoring and preventing adverse events, including TTIs, is reported as lacking in Egypt. This highlights the importance of comprehensive surveillance and safety measures in the blood donation process to ensure universal access to safe blood. Primary health care can play a pivotal role in preventing TTIs.

A comparative study of the work-family conflicts prevalence, their sociodemographic, family, and work attributes, and their relation to the self-reported health status in Japanese and Egyptian civil workers.

BACKGROUND: Cross-cultural studies studying work-family conflicts (W_F_Cs) are scarce. We compared the prevalence of W_F_Cs, factors correlated with them, and their association with self-rated health between Japan and Egypt. METHODS: Among 4862 Japanese and 3111 Egyptian civil workers recruited by a convenience sample in 2018/2019 and reported self-rated health status, we assessed the W_F_Cs by the Midlife Development in the US (MIDUS) and attributed them to sociodemographic, family, and work variables. We also evaluated the W_F_Cs' gender- and country-specific associations with self-rated health by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: W_F_Cs were more prevalent in Egyptian than in Japanese women (23.7% vs. 18.2%) and men (19.1% vs. 10.5%), while poor self-rated health was more prevalent in Japanese than Egyptians (19.3% and 17.3% vs. 16.9% and 5.5%). Longer working hours, shift work, and overtime work were positively associated with stronger work-to-family conflict (WFC). Whereas being single was inversely associated with stronger family-to-work conflict (FWC). Living with children, fathers, or alone in Japan while education in Egypt was associated with these conflicts. The OR (95% CI) for poor self-reported health among those with the strong, in reference to weak total W_F_Cs, was 4.28 (2.91-6.30) and 6.01 (4.50-8.01) in Japanese women and men and was 2.46 (1.75-3.47) and 3.11 (1.67-5.80) in Egyptian women and men. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese and Egyptian civil workers have different prevalence and correlated factors of W_F_Cs and self-rated health. W_F_Cs were associated in a dose-response pattern with poor-self-rated health of civil workers in both countries.

The relationship between dietary intake and stunting among pre-school children in Upper Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: Linear growth is controlled by several factors, malnutrition is one of the leading causes of stunted child growth. The objective of this study was to determine the dietary intakes associated with stunting among pre-school children in rural Upper Egypt. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data were collected by interviewing the children's caregivers in the rural household setting. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 497 pre-school children aged 2-5 years in rural Upper Egypt. Food intake data were estimated using 24-h recall method. Anthropometric measurements of children were taken and then converted to z-scores for weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score and weight-for-height Z-score. RESULTS: The study included 497 children of which 19·1 % were stunted, 76·3 % did not meet recommended energetic intake and 13·7 % did not meet recommended protein intake and this was significantly higher than non-stunted children. Children who were stunted significantly consumed poultry, eggs and fruits less often than non-stunted children, by regression; male sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1·91), mother's age (0·93), lower socio-economic status (SES); and not meeting recommended protein intake (aOR = 2·26) were found to be associated with stunting. CONCLUSION: Male sex, younger mothers, lower SES and not meeting recommended energy and protein were statistically associated with stunting. Nutrition education messages encouraging adequate and healthy eating are recommended.

Determinants of caregiver burden of persons with disabilities in a rural district in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers are critical partners in the plan of care of people with disabilities. The study aims to demonstrate the factor structure and internal consistency of the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) among the studied caregivers of disabled persons and to determine the effects of patients' and caregivers' characteristics on the burden and its dimensions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study among 260 family caregivers of disabled patients was carried out in a randomly chosen rural area, Minia, Egypt, 2019. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the factorial validity of the CBI. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the significant factors affecting the burden. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in a five-factor solution using 20 items (four for each dimension) accounting for 72.7% of the total variance. The CBI and its dimensions showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha value > 0.70). Education of caregiver, family income, mental impairments, and mixed disabilities were significant predictors of total CBI burden. CONCLUSIONS: CBI is an effective multidimensional measure of the caregiver burden of disabled subjects. Caregivers experienced a distinct level of burden that is determined by caregiver and care recipient characteristics. Therefore, support and individualized counseling services should be optimized.

Effects of Mothers' Knowledge and Coping Strategies on the Glycemic Control of Their Diabetic Children in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the relationship between mothers' knowledge related to treatment management of type 1 diabetes (T1D), with perceptions of coping with diabetes-related stress and to examine the relationship between children's metabolic control and maternal coping. A cross-sectional study was done among ninety-two mothers of T1D children. METHODS: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, Ways of coping questionnaire (WCQ), and Diabetes Knowledge questionnaire-24 (DKQ-24). RESULTS: The most important predictors of the total knowledge scores among mothers were father education (P < 0.0001), followed by child age and sex (P < 0.0001), while the most important coping scales affected by total knowledge scores was accepting responsibility (P = 0.01). There were positive correlation between HBA1C and escape-avoidance and positive reappraisal coping scales (r = 0.24, P = 0.02 and r = 0.23, P = 0.02, respectively). Blood glucose level was the most important clinical characteristics affecting the use of seeking social support coping scale among mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Parents with more knowledge of diabetes and with better education were able to cope more effective and maintain a better glycemic control of their diabetic children.

Awareness about Breast Cancer and Its Screening among Rural Egyptian Women, Minia District: a Population-Based Study

Background: Recent global cancer statistics indicate rising global incidence of breast cancer and the increase is occurring at a faster rate in developing countries. Training women how to carry out breast self-examination (BSE) can help them to be alert to any abnormalities in their breasts to speedily seek medical consultation. Health behavior may be influenced by level of awareness about breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional community- based study aimed to assess the level of knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, early warning signs, screening approaches and related predictors. Also, to determine the extent of practice of breast self- examination (BSE) among rural women, Minia in the period from February to May 2016. A total of 600 women were randomly included in the study. A questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics and information related to their knowledge about breast cancer. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 19. Results: Moderate and high knowledge scores were presented by 46.9 %. Nearly 40% of participants had the knowledge that smoking increased the likelihood of cancer breast and almost 30% of them affirmed that being obese or having a positive family history of cancer breast made them vulnerable to cancer breast. It was found that 28.7% and 18.2% of them knew that aging and nulliparity increased the likelihood of breast cancer. Participants with better knowledge score were 4.8 times more likely to practice BSE. Conclusion: This study revealed poor knowledge among rural women regarding cancer breast. BSE and clinical breast examination were not well practiced. It is recommended to create awareness programs about breast cancer and regular patterns of BSE.

Predictors of Delay in Seeking Health Care among Myocardial Infarction Patients, Minia District, Egypt.

Objectives. To determine the barriers that hinder early seeking of medical care among Minia's myocardial infarction patients. Methods. The study was based on individual interviews with 207 men and women with a first confirmed myocardial infarction (MI), admitted to the coronary care units of hospitals in Minia city in the period from April 1 to August 30, 2014. Data was collected via structured questionnaire and patient medical charts. The delay was evaluated by assisting patients to triangulate time of symptom onset and time of professional health care by placing both times in context of daily activities that participants could easily remember. Results. The median (25th, 75th percentiles) delay time was 4 (2, 10) h. Only 32.8% of patients arrived within 2 hours of symptoms onset. Variables that significantly predicted prehospital delay time were patient's misinterpretation of nature of pain with OR 8.98 (95% CI) (3.97-20.32), illiteracy 7.98 (2.77-22.95), age (>65) 5.07 (1.57-16.29), and pain resistance behavior 4.61 (2.04-10.41). Conclusions. Interventions to decrease prehospital delay must focus on improving public awareness of acute myocardial infarction symptoms and increasing their knowledge on early treatment benefits.

The role of dietary and lifestyle factors in the development of colorectal cancer: case control study in Minia, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, after lung and breast cancer, and is associated with the population dietary and lifestyle factors. AIM: To determine the relation between dietary and lifestyle factors and development of CRC in patients attending Minia oncology centre and compare them with their control. METHODS: Study included 150 CRC patients attending Minia oncology centre and 300 control subjects matched by age and sex. Subjects participating in the study filled in a questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic data, medical data concerning CRC and its treatment as well as dietary and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: The most significant dietary and lifestyle CRC risk factors were higher consumption of red meat (OR = 57.1), preserved food (OR = 39.4), artificial sweeteners (OR = 20.8), fast foods (OR = 12.8), soft drinks (OR = 4.6), spicy foods (OR = 4.2), processed meat (OR = 2.4), and smoking (OR = 8.8). The most significant protective factors were physical activity (OR = 0.001), calcium rich diet (OR = 0.08), higher consumption of fruits and vegetable (OR = 0.02), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli OR = 0.11, cauliflower OR = 0.30 and cabbage OR = 0.30), high fiber bread (OR = 0.15), fruit juice (OR = 0.18), and sea foods (tuna OR = 0.28 and fish OR = 0.38). CONCLUSION: Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary choices were prevalent among CRC cases. This study provides strong evidence that lifestyle and dietary modification are important factors in the prevention of colorectal cancer.