Original Article introductionVitamin A deficiency is one of the causes of immune system depression which affects about 130 million preschool children and 7 million pregnant women mostly in developing countries. [1] Vitamin A deficiency in under-five children can also cause mortality risk up to 20%-30%. [1] Xerophthalmia among preschool children amounts to about 5 million cases, 10% of which can potentially lead to blindness. [2,3] Even though there have already been significant improvements, Vitamin A deficiency is still the cause of at least 650,000 young children deaths annually, which are related to diarrhea, measles, malaria, and other infections. [4,5] The World Health Organization recommends Vitamin A supplementation program to children aged from 6 to 59 months, as it is still the main choice in dealing with Vitamin A deficiency cases. However, there is still a need for other efforts in the future to achieve sustainable prevention; one of them is Vitamin A fortification in food sources. Education and nutritional knowledge are also important, especially for mothers, to improve the growth and development of children. [1] In Libya, because of the war and the risk of nutritional problems which always accompanies wars, a free Vitamin A supplementation campaign was conducted for the first time, in the last week of March 2018 for children aged from 6 to 59 months. Therefore, the study aimed first to explore the knowledge and attitude of the parents regarding Vitamin A supplementation campaign, second, to assess the coverage rate of Vitamin A supplementation among under-five children in Benghazi, and third, to find the parents' rationale for not giving their children Vitamin A supplementation. SubJEctS and mEthodSThis study was conducted between April 1 and May 31, 2018, in the maternal and child health (MCH) clinics and pediatric clinics Background: According to the World Health Organization, Vitamin A deficiency can cause immune system depression in about 130 million preschool children and 7 million pregnant women mostly in developing countries and cause mortality risk up to 20%-30%. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents in Benghazi regarding the Vitamin A campaign. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 1390 parents attending maternal and child health clinics and pediatric clinics at six main polyclinics, in Benghazi in April and May 2018. Results: Most of the parents were younger than 40 years (71%). Mothers constitute 68% of the study population and 52% of the children were male. Half of the parents had higher education. Only 40% of the parents were having good knowledge about the benefits and food sources of Vitamin A. The coverage rate of Vitamin A supplementation among under-five children in the study was 66%. The main reason for not giving their children Vitamin A supplementation in this study was the lack of awareness of the campaign during the previous year. However, 88% of the interviewed parents had a positive attitude of regiving Vitami...
Periconceptional folic acid supplementation has been shown to decrease the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTD’s). In a cross-sectional study, the knowledge attitude and practice regarding the peri-conceptional use of folic acid were assessed among the pregnant women in Benghazi, Libya. 131 women attending antenatal clinics in three main polyclinics were interviewed through three polyclinics. Seventy-three percent of the participants had heard about folic acid, and only 37% could correctly identify the effect of folic acid when used periconceptionally. 27% of the pregnant women did not take folic acid during their present pregnancy. Only 6% of the women who took folic acid were taking it consistently before pregnancy with the aim of preventing NTDs. This study shows that the interviewed pregnant women reveal high positive attitude (88%) toward retaking folic acid supplements in their next pregnancy. The overall knowledge regarding the periconceptional use of folic acid was relatively low when compared to other studies worldwide. Health education regarding the periconceptional use of folic acid among newly married couples is recommended.
Background: This study intended to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding standard precautions concerning health care-associated infections (HAIs) among hemodialysis nurses in hemodialysis centers in Benghazi. Methods: the study was a cross sectional study carried out during the period from 1-3-2014 till 30-9-2014. The data was gathered from hemodialysis nurses in hemodialysis centers in Benghazi by using a questionnaire and by direct interview. Results: There were a total of 59 hemodialysis nurses in hemodialysis centers in Benghazi. All agreed to participate in the study. Although 92% of the nurses knew that their hands could be a source of health care-associated infections, but only 52% of nurses washed their hands before contacting another patient. Gloves were actually used by 98% of the nurses. 46% of the nurses were usually wearing masks when contacting a patient. Books and journals were the main source of information about (HAI) among 52% of the nurses. Conclusion: The nurses' knowledge of health care-associated infections did not modify their adherence to hand hygiene practices. This study recommend training programs for hemodialysis nurses about promoting higher hand hygiene standards and potential use of personal protective measures during their shifts in hemodialyais centers.
Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical picture characterized by severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema and hypercholesterolemia. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to describe the disease pattern among Libyan children admitted to Benghazi children hospital during the year 2016. The medical data was analysed using SPSS software. Results: Out of 105 patients with NS aged between 6 days and 15 years, 69.5% were boys and 30.5% were girls, with a mean age 4.9±3.7 years. 89% of the nephrotic children had Idiopathic type. ,57% of the known cases who diagnosed before as nephrotic syndrome were steroid responsive and 21% of them had frequent relapses. Conclusion and Recommendations: Idiopathic NS was the most common type and males outnumber female patients Further studies of childhood NS in Libya are recommended to know the exact prevalence and incidence rate of the disease.
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