BackgroundNursing is one of the occupations with a high risk for back injuries. The etiology of low back pain (LBP) among nurses is usually multifactorial, probably because job demands in nursing is a mixture of physically demanding and mentally demanding tasks. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of and risk factors for chronic LBP in nursing personnel working in Zagazig University Hospitals. Materials and methodsThis study is a quantitative, retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional one. It included 150 female nurses who are currently working in Zagazig University Hospitals. All participants completed a self-administered Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire. Data for risk factors of LBP (age, height, weight, BMI, marital state, parity) and working conditions (duration of employment in the current work, average working hours per week, work demands, duration of absence from work in the last year) were collected. ResultsLBP prevailed in 79.3% of the studied group of working nurses. The highest percentage was found among nurses working in the ICU (95.0%) and the least among those working in the outpatient clinics (64.0%). There was a highly significant association between LBP and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001). A higher incidence of LBP was associated with lifting heavy loads, followed by twisting, prolonged standing, prolonged sitting, walking for long distances, and bending forward. ConclusionPrevalence of LBP is high among nurses, resulting in significant medical and socioprofessional consequences. Risk factors necessitate multidisciplinary involvement to reduce the incidence of LBP and related costs.

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Our objective was to determine the prevalence juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Population-based study was performed to identify the prevalence of JIA in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, between November 2009 and November 2010. Prevalence of JIA was 3.43 per 100,000 (95 % CI 3.1-4.3). Prevalence in boys was 2.58 per 100,000 (95 % CI 2.4-3.6) and in girls 4.33 per 100,000 (95 % CI 3.3-5.1). Uveitis presented in 19.7 % of cases, antinuclear antibody in 48.5 %, and rheumatoid factor in 27.2 %. Oligoarthritis representing 52.2 % of the total population, and enthesitis-related arthritis presented only in 6 patients. No cases of undifferentiated arthritis or psoriatic arthritis were found. This is the first epidemiological study of JIA in Sharkia, Egypt. Oligoarthritis was the most common subtype.