Background and methodology Although modern family planning methods are readily available in Egypt at low cost, a considerable proportion of women still have an unmet contraceptive need. The aim of this study was to detect the risk factors of unmet contraceptive need among married women in the childbearing period in an underprivileged area in Cairo with high population density. A survey of 2340 women in the Marg district of Eastern Cairo was conducted by means of home interviews. For every woman identifi ed as having an unmet contraceptive need (n=174), the next two women identifi ed with met contraceptive need were selected as controls (n=348). Results The prevalence of unmet need was 7.4%. Risk factors identifi ed were: belief that contraception is religiously prohibited (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.06-4.09); poor interspousal communication about the desired number of children (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.40-4.79); husband opposition to contraceptive use (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.47-5.97); a previous history of unwanted pregnancy (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.73-5.14); and experiencing side effects from previous contraceptive use (OR 5.69,. Conclusions The authors propose training physicians to identify and counsel women who experience contraceptive side effects and/or a previous unwanted pregnancy, as well as the transmission of clear media messages on the religious acceptability of contraceptive use. IntroductionRates of contraceptive use have increased recently in most developing countries, as has the desire of most married couples for smaller families.1 However, an estimated 17% of married women in the developing world still have an unmet need for contraception, defined as use of no contraceptive method in spite of sexual exposure and an expressed desire to avoid pregnancy.2 Women identified as having an unmet need include those who expressed a desire to postpone their next birth for more than 2 years (spacing) as well as those who wish to have no more children (limiting). Women who are pregnant or have postpartum amenorrhoea who report that their pregnancy was unintended (either mistimed or unwanted) are also classified as having an unmet need. 1Unintended pregnancy is an important public health issue in both developed and developing countries because of its negative association with social and health outcomes for both mothers and children. Numerous risk factors for unmet need in developing countries have been identified. In Egypt, perceived low risk of fertility (infrequent or no sex, infecundity, postpartum amenorrhoeic, or breastfeeding), fear of the side effects of contraception, lack of knowledge of family planning methods and husband opposition have been reported. 4 5 Understanding the underlying reasons of unmet contraceptive need will help to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and reduce the birth rate of Egyptian women. Subjects and methodsThe study aim was to identify the risk factors of unmet contraceptive need among married women in the childbearing period in an underprivileged district in Cairo.

This study was conducted to develop an instructional programme on sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and test the effect of the programme on the secondary school students’ knowledge of and attitude towards sickle cell anaemia in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. A pretest/posttest one-arm interventional study was conducted at the Faculty of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Jazan University, with a convenience sample of 120 male students. The intervention consisted of two interactive sessions about sickle cell anaemia and premarital screening. The mean student knowledge score was 6.04 ± 3.02 on the pretest, which improved to 10.73 ± 3.47 on the posttest, with a statistically significant difference (t = 15.2, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the responses pertaining to attitude before and after the health education intervention. The policy implications of these findings are discussed to improve the performance of the Saudi healthcare system in dealing with this costly inherited disease.

The objectives of this study were to develop a schistosomiasis health education model and to evaluate its effectiveness in changing knowledge, attitudes and schistosomal infection rate among Egyptian primary school children. A randomized community trial of three pairs of comparable schools in rural areas was implemented. The study revealed a significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes as well as a reduction of schistosomal infection 1 year post-intervention in the intervention schools of pairs I and II. However, the improvements in knowledge in the intervention school of pair III were not accompanied by significant changes in attitude or schistosomal infection