ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess female university students' knowledge of breast cancer and its preventative measures and to identify their main misconceptions regarding breast cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2011 and June 2012 and included female students from three large universities in Ajman, United Arab Emirates [UAE]. A stratified random sampling procedure was used. Data were collected through a validated, pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included 35 questions testing knowledge of risk factors, warning signs and methods for the early detection of breast cancer. Participants' opinions regarding breast cancer misconceptions were also sought. Results: The participants [n = 392] were most frequently between 18 and 22 years old [63.5%], non-Emirati [90.1%] and never married [89%]. A family history of breast cancer was reported by 36 [9.2%] of the students. The percentage of participants who had low/below average knowledge scores regarding risk factors, warning signs and methods for early detection of breast cancer was 40.6%, 45.9% and 86.5%, respectively. Significantly higher knowledge scores on risk factors were noticed among participants with a family history of breast cancer [P = 0.03]. The misconception most frequently identified was that "treatment for breast cancer affects a woman's femininity" [62.5%]. A profound lack of knowledge about breast cancer was noted among female university students in the three UAE universities studied. The most prominent gaps in knowledge identified were those concerning breast cancer screening methods
ABSTRACT
Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy is a rare cause of acute abdomen. Often in these cases the diagnosis made is obstetric emergencies like abruption, placentae or the commoner surgical emergencies in pregnancy. The causes of spontaneous hemoperitoneum include obstetric emergencies like ovarian cyst rupture, ectopic pregnancies which present in early pregnancy and uterine rupture and hepatic rupture in cases of HELLP syndrome which present in late pregnancy. Pregnancy may also predispose rarely to splenic rupture, rupture of visceral arteries like splenic and uterine and rupture of utero-ovarian veins. However in certain cases of spontaneous hemoperitoneum the site of bleeding may not be identified at surgical exploration. Even with recent advances in angiography there are cases where the site of bleeding is not identified. These cases of idiopathic spontaneous hemoperitoneum were historically termed as abdominal apoplexy. The first case of idiopathic spontaneous hemoperitoneum was reported in 1909. We report a case of idiopathic spontaneous hemoperitoneum at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Early operative intervention was done in the case which led to good maternal outcome. The fetal prognosis usually depends on the degree of prematurity. In our case the baby was premature and was discharged well after a 17-day NICU stay