Misconceptions and traditional practices toward infant teething symptoms among mothers in eastern Sudan: a cross-sectional study

There is no much published data on the mothers' false beliefs about signs and symptoms associated with teething in Sudan. Aim: This cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted to assess mothers` knowledge about infant teething process and to evaluate mothers' practices used to alleviate teething disturbances in Gadarif city, eastern Sudan. Methods: Questionnaires were used to collect data. Multivariate logistics regression models were performed and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results/Conclusion: Of a total of 384 participating mothers, 126 (32.8%) had good knowledge about infant teething. The mothers' knowledge was associated with a higher number of children in the family (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.14) and with having a job (AOR = 2.22). Mothers residing in rural areas (AOR = 0.40) and mothers with lower than secondary education (AOR = 0.43) were less likely to have good knowledge about teething. Diarrhea (88.5%), fever (86.5%), an urge to bite (76.6%), and poor appetite (71.9%) were the signs and symptoms most attributed to teething by mothers. Only the mother's knowledge about teething was associated with reporting fever as a sign. A considerable number (317; 82.6%) of mothers reported performing "Dokhan" (acacia wood smoke), 313 (81.5%) preferred to administer paracetamol or other systemic analgesics, 262 (68.2%) agreed that a child with tooth eruption should be taken to a hospital or health center, and 216 (56.3%) believed that antibiotics relieved symptoms related to teething

The impact of sickle cell anemia on the quality of life of sicklers at school age.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is prevalent in Sudan in general, and in particular in the western part of the country among Misseria tribe. School absence, depressive symptoms, embarrassment, social disturbances, and emotional disturbance present negative impact for sicklers. Therefore, an urgent call for improving the quality of life of sicklers is needed. OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of SCA on the quality of life of school-age children affected by the disease from the perspective of three dimensions: psychological, social, and schooling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study carried out over 2 weeks' period in April 2011 in Western Sudan, Gineana District. This study included 107 patients within the age group of 7-15 years with confirmed diagnosis of SCA in a steady state. A sickler with SCA who had hemoglobin genotype "SS" on hemoglobin electrophoresis without crises over the past 4 weeks was considered to be in steady state. Questionnaires designed by expert covering social and psychological aspects of the disease were filled by the authors. RESULTS: Of 107 patients with confirmed diagnosis of SCA in steady state, 54.2% of them were male. About 17.8%, 29.6%, 23.4%, 48.6%, 16.8%, and 45.8% of the patients suffered from school absence, teasing, embarrassment due to bedwetting, embarrassment due to jaundice, failure to contribute to school activities such as sport, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Around 8.4% of the patients repeated classes. Divorce and anxiety among sicklers' families were found in 6.5% and 8.4%, respectively. Twenty-one (19.6%) families had less interest in social activities in the community. CONCLUSION: Sickle cell disease has many social and psychological problems which need to be addressed. Enuresis, depressive symptoms, school absentees, and deterioration in school performance were the common problems encountered.

Assessment of professionalism among medical students at a regional university in Saudi Arabia.

Professionalism is the relationship that is built on trust between the medical profession and their community. We aim to assess the understanding and the perception of professionalism by the medical students at University of Bisha (UB) in Saudi Arabia. This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study conducted among the medical students at UB. A validated questionnaire containing nine questions was distributed to all medical students. The questionnaire addresses the knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward professionalism. Out of the all 122 students studying at the university, 97 responded by filling the questionnaire giving a response rate of 79.5%. Most of the responders gave a positive attitude and perception when asked about presumed scenarios addressing professionalism. The majority of the participants (83.5%) mentioned that it is necessary for the medical student to wear lab coat in the hospital, 67.0% disagreed on medical student to wear accessories during work, and 67.0% disagreed to request your friend to sign on behalf of you when you are absent. Only 15.5% accepted to report on an incidence during daily activities or exam, and 72.2% did not accept to discuss patients issues in public. Most of the medical students enrolled in this study seems to have positive attitude and perception regarding professionalism.

Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori among Sudanese children admitted to a specialized children hospital.

The infection by Helicobacter Pylori (HP), a gram-negative bacillus, is more prevalent in the developing countries, and more often among younger people reaching up to 10% of the population in comparison to only 0.5% in more developed world. Generally HP is asymptomatic in children. This study aimed to determining the prevalence of Hp among Sudanese children and to recognize associated epidemiological features. It was a prospective cross sectional study at Gaafar Ibn Aouf children hospital (GCH) in the period between December 2010 and May 2011. GCH is the largest specialized referral hospital in Khartoum and in the Sudan. Those who were diagnosed before as Hp positive were excluded. Full history, Physical examination was performed. A blood sample was taken from every patient and serum was kept at -20°C to be tested for Hp IgG antibodies through ELISA kit (Monobind; Inc., California, USA) as directed by the Manufacturer, and 20 U/mL for antibodies was considered significant and positive. Using SPSS Version 21, categorical variables were compared with Chi-square test where P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. This current study included 128/312 (40.1%) children admitted to the hospital who were +ve for HP (56.3% = male). The prevalence of HP is 56.3% among Sudanese children Prevalence of HP increased with age and was directly related to mother and father level of education, socioeconomic status and positive family history.

Comparison in the quality of distractors in three and four options type of multiple choice questions.

INTRODUCTION: The number of distractors needed for high quality multiple choice questions (MCQs) will be determined by many factors. These include firstly whether English language is their mother tongue or a foreign language; secondly whether the instructors who construct the questions are experts or not; thirdly the time spent on constructing the options is also an important factor. It has been observed by Tarrant et al that more time is often spent on constructing questions than on tailoring sound, reliable, and valid distractors. OBJECTIVES: Firstly, to investigate the effects of reducing the number of options on psychometric properties of the item. Secondly, to determine the frequency of functioning distractors among three or four options in the MCQs examination of the dermatology course in University of Bahri, College of Medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study which was performed by means of a dermatology exam, MCQs type. Forty MCQs, with one correct answer for each question were constructed. Two sets of this exam paper were prepared: in the first one, four options were given, including one key answer and three distractors. In the second set, one of the three distractors was deleted randomly, and the sequence of the questions was kept in the same order. Any distracter chosen by less than 5% of the students was regarded as non-functioning. Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (Kr-20) measures the internal consistency and reliability of an examination with an acceptable range 0.8-1.0. Chi square test was used to compare the distractors in the two exams. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in discrimination and difficulty indexes for both sets of MCQs. More distractors were non-functional for set one (of four options), but slightly more reliable. The reliability (Kr-20) was slightly higher for set one (of four options). The average marks in option three and four were 34.163 and 33.140, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared to set 1 (four options), set 2 (of three options) was more discriminating and associated with low difficulty index but its reliability was low.

Effect of tactile kinesthetic stimulation on preterm infants' weight and length of hospital stay in Khartoum, Sudan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of 7 days tactile kinesthetic stimulation (TKS) on preterm infants' weight and hospital stays in Khartoum State, Sudan. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study, it was conducted in 4 hospitals between January and June 2013, Khartoum, Sudan, and it involved 160 preterm infants randomly assigned into the case and control groups (80 neonates in each). Preterm infants in the control group received routine nursing care, while preterm infants in the case group received TKS for 3 periods, 15 minute per day for 7 constitutive days, in addition to routine care. Data was collected using a structured self-designed and validated questionnaire, checklist, and weighting scale. Weight gain and hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Over the constitutive 7 days, the case group gained significantly more weight (1071 gm versus 1104 gm) compared with the control group (1077 gm versus 1084 gm) (1084.55±90.74) who gained only 6.9 gm within the same 7 days without TKS treatment. The mean difference in weight gain was significant (p=0.00). The hospital stay for preterm infants in the case group was significantly shorter (18.05±9.36 versus 25.47±10.25; p=0.00). CONCLUSION: Tactile kinesthetic stimulation for preterm infants has a beneficial effect on weight gain and earlier discharge from hospital, which are sequentially efficient and cost effective.

Evaluation of quality of routine physical examination in urban public basic schools in Khartoum State, Sudan.

The objectives of this study are to identify the availability of the service logistics in basic public schools (structure as quality concept), to assess steps of physical examination according to the ministry of health guidelines (process as quality concept) and to measure satisfaction of service consumers (pupils) and service providers (teacher and doctors). The study involved seven localities in Sudan using questionnaires and observations. The structure in form of material and human resources was not well maintained, equally the process and procedure of medical examination did not well fit with rules of quality, however, the satisfaction level was within the accepted level. As far as structure, process and outcome were concerned, we are still below the standards in developed countries for many reasons but the level of satisfaction in the present study is more or less similar as in else studies.