Patient preference for providers' gender at a primary health care setting in Alexandria, Egypt

The aim of this study is to determine patient's gender preferences in choosing general practitioners and specialists for both general and specific health issues at primary health care centers in Alexandria, Egypt. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Smouha Health Center, Alexandria Governorate, Alexandria, Egypt. The study was conducted between the period January - March 2004. A pre-designed questionnaire was used. The format included 3 main sections, namely, socio-demographic, beliefs towards provider's gender, and providers' preferences of patients. Both male and female patients preferred a male physician for consultation and clinical management of cases. The highest percentage of male patients [81.4%] and female patients [41.0%] preferred physician of the same gender, and such preference was of personal reasons for males [97.9%] and females [96.6%], while basing on traditions and norms for male [62.9%] and female [63.4%]. Significant results of the stepwise logistic regression analysis in relation to socio-demographic factors on provider preference revealed that job and income were the significant determinants of gender preference for the sample under study. Patients prefer physicians of the same gender, but in actual practice a male physician is believed to be more competent

Women health in poor urban settings in Alexandria

The aim of this paper is to investigate women health and status as well as to study gender gap in three poor urban settings in Alexandria. Poor families were identified and invited to participate in the study through the help of local informants. The study included 172 families, 53 from Abu- Kir, 57 from El-Dahreya and 62 from Wadi El-Kamar area. An interviewing questionnaire was used to collect data form the wives as well as their husbands about household family members. Wives and husbands who participated in the study were clinically examined. Their weight and height were measured. For those who accepted to participate, stool, urine and blood analyses were performed. Female to male comparison as well as sex ratio of some parameters were used to investigate gender gap. Results showed that females were the head of the family in 19.8% of the families. In 18% of the families, wives participated in the family income. Illiteracy represented 94.2% among females aged 45+ years, and unemployment was 97.4%. The rate of ill health increased with age from 36% for girls to 90% among older women [45+] compared to 71% among older males. Cardiovascular and orthopedic disorders represented the most reported problems among older females and males. Diarrhea and ARI episodes were rather more frequent among females than among males. About 60% of examined women suffered from obesity, 45% had gynecological problems, 38% had parasitic infections in stool, and 45% had anemia. Female to male sex ratio was low for <6 and 60+ years old. In conclusion, poor women suffer from high burden of socio-economic disadvantage, gender inequality and ill-health