The composition analysis of medical waste is generally considered to be the fundamental information for the most basic steps in the development of a plan for solid hospitals waste management. The objectives of this study were to determine the quantity, generation rate, and the physical composition of medical waste generated in hospitals of Sana'a city, Yemen. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the composition of hospital wastes generated in four governmental hospitals in Sana'a City. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of the hospitals, which included (Al-Thawra, Al-Kuwait, Republic, and Military). Results of this study showed that the daily average of the waste generated from the studied hospitals was 5615 kg/day. Approximately 26% of the total waste was hazardous (infectious, pathological, and chemical wastes). While 74% was a general (non-hazardous) waste. The average rate of the total waste generation was 3 kg/patient/day, and 2.5 kg/bed/day. The mean individual components of generated waste in the studied hospitals were; foods 27%, plastic 22%, paper/cardboard 22%, glass 11%, metals 10%, and others 8%. In conclusion, about 26% of the waste was hazardous. The physical component analysis of the waste indicated that the foods, plastic, and paper/cartoon has the highest content of the hospitals waste. Decision makers in Yemen can use this study information for designing and plan the properly management for the collecting system and the healthy disposal of the hazardous waste. Also, for estimating the total policy of required facilities, manpower, and other related costs.Keywords: Composition; medical waste; hospitals waste; Yemen

Abstract. Schistosomiasis is among the mainly prevalent suffering of human who live in areas of poverty in the developing world. Epidemiological surveys indicated that schistosomiasis is widely distributed in Yemen. Two main forms of human schistosomiasis exist in Yemen. Urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium infection and intestinal schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni infection. This cross-sectional inquiry aims to appreciate the prevalence and corresponding risk factors of schistosomiasis included in primary schoolchildren in Al-Mahweet governorate, Yemen. Urine and faecal specimenes (samples) were collected from 196 primary school children. Urine samples were examined using sedimentation method for presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs. While faecal samples were examined using Kato Katz techniques for the presence of Schistosoma mansoni. Structured questionnaires were administered to the subjects of the target population in order to determine infection in relation to associated factors. Overall, 30.1 % of study participants were found to be positive for schistosomiasis; 35.7 % were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 24.5 % were infected with Schistosoma haematobium. The relation between the prevalence of schistosomiasis infection and the factors of age and gender were not statistically significance (P= 0.183 and 0.560) respectively. The highest rate (61 %) of schistosomiasis infection, were recorded among the schoolchildren who using streams as a main source of water. The urban area of Al-Mahweet governorate had a lower prevalence of schistosomiasis infection (11.9 %), as compared to schoolchildren from rural area (29.4 %). Other multivariate analysis confirmed that schoolchildren fathers' education status (P= 0.007), sanitary facilities (P= 0.001) and place of residence (P= 0.001) were the key factors significantly associated with schistosomiasis infection among these children. This study reveals that schistosomiasis infection is still highly prevalent in Al-Mahweet governorate, Yemen. This study recommended that, beside periodic drug distribution, a comprehensive intervention strategy should be designed and be implemented to reduce schistosomiasis prevalence.

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Waste that is generated from healthcare establishments is potentially harmful to human beings and environment.

Background: Hospital-associated infections are those infections acquired during the patient's stay in a hospital or after the patient has been discharged from the hospital. Healthcare professionals, nurses in particular, are constantly expose to these infections while carrying out their nursing activities. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practice of the standard precautions of infection control among nurses in the selected government hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted amongst nurses working in five government hospitals in Sana'a City, Yemen. A convenience sample consisting of 232 nurses who work in select hospitals used. The tool used was a self-administered questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics used to analyze the study results. Chi-square test, T-test, and One-Way ANOVA test performed and a P-value ?0.05 considered significant. Results: The study revealed that there was a significant statistical difference between nurses' knowledge and practice of standard precautions of infection control (p=0.037). The mean practices percent of nurses practicing safety precautions (53%) was significantly lower than the mean percentage of tested knowledge (81.4%). Less than half of the respondents 106 (45.7%) had a very good knowledge level (>80%), however, only 48 (20.7%) practiced a good level of standard precautions of infection control. Significant statistical differences were found between knowledge and gender (P=0.028) as well as the practice towards work experience and hospital's name (P=0.047, 0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Nurses in the study had good knowledge but the poor practice of standard precautions of infection control. Most of the barriers to using standard precautions of infection control measures were the inadequate supplies of safety devices and the unavailability of infection control protocol in the hospitals.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to expand the evidence base on the prevalence of risk factors for the main noncommunicable diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, and obesity) among rural women in Yemen.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 rural women in the age range from 18 to 60 years who presented in the targeted health centers of Sana'a and Al-Mahweet governorates during the time of the study. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire developed as per World Health Organization STEPS guidelines. Body mass index, blood pressure, and biochemical measurements of fasting blood glucose were recorded.Results: Ninety-four percent of the respondents were physically inactive. Only 3.5% of respondents were smokers, while 66.3% were qat chewers. Forty-seven percent watched TV. Thirtynine percent of respondents ate vegetables daily, while 19.5% consumed fruits daily. Among the respondents, 31.3% were obese, 15.0% were hypertensive, and 7.8% had diabetes mellitus. Age group, marital status, and education level were significantly associated with obesity, blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. There were significant associations between obesity and blood pressure, as well as between blood pressure and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion:Frequent campaigns and educational programs are to be encouraged for the adoption of healthy lifestyle practices and health promotion.Significance statement: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) morbidity and death are increasing rapidly, particularly among developing countries, including Yemen. Information on risk factors predicts the future burden of diseases. The results of this study will complement the limited knowledge of the existing interactions between sociodemographic characteristics, behavior, and noncommunicable diseases among rural women in Yemen. It will also be a fundamental starting point for health planning and execution of health promotion interventions.

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