High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Breast Cancer Patients’ Experience about Involvement in Health Care: A Qualitative Study11412020321210.21608/jhiph.2021.203212ENEman El-SayedHealth Governance Unit, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, EgyptEnsaf AbdelgawadDepartment of Health Administrations and Behavioral Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptNabil L.DowidarHealth Governance Unit, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, EgyptAzza A.MehannaDepartment of Health Administrations and Behavioral Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt0000-0002-4060-8817Journal Article20211104Background: Patient involvement in health care is a basic patient's right. Effective communication between the health care professional and the patient is associated with improved psychological functioning of the patient, adherence to treatment, and higher quality of life. Objective(s): This study aims to explore qualitatively breast cancer patients’ experience and satisfaction with their involvement in cancer care. Methods: This study was carried out among 30 women in different breast cancer care stages through in depth-interviews. The patients were purposively selected from surgery and oncology outpatient clinics and surgery inpatient wards in Medical Research Institute Hospital- Alexandria University, and in Ayadi El-Mostakbal Cancer Care Center - Ayadi El-Mostakbal Charity Foundation, Alexandria, Egypt. Results: Some patients mentioned that they did not know their diagnosis until late, others complained of the harsh non-empathetic way of breaking the news of their disease. Patients, generally, reported a little understanding of their treatment plan, they just followed physician’s instructions without receiving enough explanation. Patients on chemotherapy and radiotherapy expressed their unsatisfied need for information. Patients’ source of information was mainly other patients who suffered from the same disease. Patients, in general, were not familiar with the concept of giving feedback, it was perceived by the majority of them as equivalent to complaining. Some patients believed that complaining could put them in trouble such as receiving harsh blame or even delaying their medication. Conclusion: Patients’ narratives revealed poor involvement in health care and showed dissatisfaction of the majority of patients with their level of involvement.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_203212_aed149faf29218b7c616bc87cb99d2a8.pdfHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Physicians and Pharmacists Working in Alexandria Governmental Hospitals Regarding Food Drug and Drug Nutrient Interactions12112720392710.21608/jhiph.2021.203927ENEsraa S.SultanFellow of Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptFikrat A.El-SahnDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptEbtisam M.FetohyDepartment of Health Administration & Behavioral Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptDoaa T.MohamedDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20211109Background: Food drug interactions (FDIs) and drug nutrient interactions (DNIs) are considered adverse drug reactions pertaining to nutritional diseases. The primarily and most easily accessible health care professionals to the patients are physicians and pharmacists. Knowledge and expertise about FDIs and DNIs are both essential among healthcare professionals where their lack would eventually lead to inappropriate patient counseling and undesirable adverse medical consequences. Aim (s): To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians and pharmacists working in Ministry of Health governmental hospitals of Alexandria regarding food drug and drug nutrient interactions and their association to professional characteristics. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 279 physicians and pharmacists. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire to gather information on personal and professional characteristics, nutritional background, and knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians and pharmacists towards food drug and nutrient interactions. Linear regression was used to detect the most independent/affecting factors for the knowledge and practice. Results: Only 10.4% and 17.9% of the studied physicians and pharmacists had good level of knowledge and practice respectively, while 86.7% had positive attitude concerning FDIs and DNIs. Multivariate analysis revealed that the main factors affecting knowledge were the graduation year and having nutrition courses either pre or post-graduation, while practice was mainly affected by knowledge and the undergraduate nutrition courses. Conclusion: Knowledge of physicians and pharmacists about FDIs and DNIs was found to be inadequate. They had positive attitude towards FDIs and DNIs, and moderate to poor practice level. This might be greatly advanced through including nutrition modules in the topics taught to medical students (physicians and pharmacists) via multiple educational strategies.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_203927_f9fbc088482640a0e3ce4f3cedcef1e9.pdfHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Factors Affecting Nutritional Status of Infants Attending Primary Health Care Centers in Suez, Egypt12813520507210.21608/jhiph.2021.205072ENLaila M.KamelDepartment of Public Health & Community Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptMarwa A.HassanFellow of Public Health & Community Medicine Department, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptGhada N.RadwanDepartment of Public Health & Community Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptHend A.SabryDepartment of Public Health & Community Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptJournal Article20211116Background: Child malnutrition is one of the public health problems in Egypt. It might be affected by the political and economic transition occurring in Egypt and the Middle East. Objective(s): Assessment of the nutritional status and related factors among infants attending urban and rural primary health care (PHC) centers in Suez Governorate. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 333 mother-infant pairs attending vaccination sessions in PHC centers in Suez Governorate. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire for assessment of socio-demographic characteristics, feeding and weaning. In addition, weight and length were measured. Whenever affordable, a blood sample for hemoglobin estimation was taken from above one-year infants. Results: Stunting was detected among 12.3% of infants, underweight among 12.9% and wasting among 9.3%. Infants with normal anthropometric measurements presented 77.2% of the sample. Being a female, with no history of sickness in the last two weeks were found to be predictors of normal nutritional status. Anemia was detected among 75.0% of examined infants (71.4% in urban and 78.2% in rural areas). Conclusion: Assessment of the nutritional status of infants attending vaccination sessions in urban and rural health centers in Suez Governorate revealed that 28.2% are suffering from one or more form of protein energy malnutrition (PEM). Three quarters of examined infants suffered from anemia. These high levels of malnutrition among infants attending PHC services represent missed opportunities to implement health promotion and preventive activities in association with vaccination sessions.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_205072_e402e2e7cb6272d82ff3518a9f7d4a3e.pdfHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Hepatitis C among Hospital Personnel and Patients at a General Hospital in Kafr Elsheikh Governorate, Egypt13614520618610.21608/jhiph.2021.206186ENRania M.BrakatDesouk General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kafr Elsheikh, EgyptWafaa M.K.BakrDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptMona H.HashishDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptMarwa M.FekryDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20211123Background: To fight against hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic in Egypt, it is crucial to understand the actual HCV situation. Hospitals have been accused as being an epicenter for sustained HCV spread in Egypt. Health care workers (HCWs) as well as patients admitted to hospitals are at special risk of acquiring HCV infection compared to the general population. Aim: To compare between the occurrence of hepatitis C in hospital personnel and patients at a general hospital in Kafr Elsheikh Governorate with reference to associated risk factors among both groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January through December 2018 on 203 hospital personnel and 197 patients admitted to Desouk General Hospital in Kafr Elsheikh Governorate, Egypt. A questionnaire for socio-demographic characteristics and HCV risk factors was filled for each participant. For HCWs, questions on occupational exposure were added. A blood sample was withdrawn from each participant to be tested for anti-HCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Results: The occurrence of anti-HCV among patients was significantly higher than among hospital personnel (18.8% vs 9.4%). Old age, low level of education, rural residence and living in bad housing conditions were significantly associated with anti-HCV positivity among both hospital personnel and patients. However, other parameters as male sex, insufficient income, illicit drug use (IDU), hemodialysis, blood transfusion, hospital admission and receiving any drug by injection or infusion were significant risk parameters for anti-HCV positivity among patients only. Conclusion: The occurrence of HCV in Egypt was substantially high among studied patients. Thus, continuous monitoring and screening of Egyptians are recommended especially after the implementation of the initiative of 100 Million Healthy Lives for HCV control.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_206186_d0693d456b3316922b16f9082cf66b3c.pdfHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Serum Uric Acid in Children with Down Syndrome14615021018310.21608/jhiph.2021.210183ENElham E.ElsakkaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt0000-0002-2242-791Bayoumi A.GhareibDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, EgyptAkram A.DeghadyDepartment of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, EgyptHabiba M.AbdelrahmanDepartment of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health, Alexandria, EgyptJournal Article20211222Background: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality. Children with DS have elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to estimate the serum UA levels in children with DS and compare it with the levels in normal children. Methods: A case control study was conducted on 200 children at Alexandria University hospital, divided into two groups. Group I: included 100 children with DS (cases). Group II: included 100 healthy children as a control group. Children of both groups were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, renal function tests and serum UA estimation. Results: 5% of patients had upper normal, 16% had high serum UA levels. None of the children in the control group had upper normal or high serum UA levels. This was statistically significant. Mean serum UA in patients was significantly higher than in the control children. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum UA and patients’ age. No statistically significant correlation between serum UA and gender was detected in both groups. Conclusion: Serum UA was significantly higher in children with DS than in controls. There was a significant positive correlation between serum UA and patients’ age.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_210183_9347600e8e616f14ff7a0ed8ac23f1d9.pdfHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060151320211201Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Children and Adolescents towards COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt15115721221610.21608/jhiph.2022.212216ENElham ElsakkaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt0000-0002-2242-791Mona KhalilDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20220102Background: As research about COVID-19 continues, a lot of facts keep on changing and many myths are also prevalent regarding the prevention and management of the infection. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to assess the current knowledge, perception and practice towards COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents in Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 512 children and adolescents, aged 6-18 years living in different Egyptian cities, during the first half of July 2020, by an anonymous online questionnaire; designed to assess knowledge, perception and practices of children and adolescents towards COVID-19 disease. Results: The study included 512 participants. The mean age was 13.39 ± 3.24 years and 65.2% were females. About half of the participants perceived the situation in Egypt as bad, and 41.5% as getting worse, 47.7% thought that media is not telling the truth, 6.7% thought people were respecting lockdown, 40.2% had expectations that COVID-19 will end soon and 37.5% expected that they will return to school regularly in the next academic year. The general knowledge was good in 58% and poor in 1.2% of participants. The mode of transmission knowledge was good in 58% and poor in 11.7% of participants. The disease prevention knowledge was good in 68.3% and poor in 9.4% of participants. The practice of participants was good in 16.2% and poor in 11.3%. Overall knowledge and practice significantly improved with increased age. Practice was significantly better in females than in males. Conclusion: Knowledge of children and adolescents about COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt was good, while their practice towards the pandemic was fair. It has shown that good knowledge does not necessarily result in good practice.https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_212216_1327dd5f45c534b6a42aee40ae4f298d.pdf