This study assesses the prevalence of gynecological and related morbidity conditions in a rural Egyptian community. A medical examination was conducted on a sample of 509 ever-married, nonpregnant women. For gynecological morbidities, genital prolapse was diagnosed in 56 percent, reproductive tract infections in 52 percent, and abnormal cervical cell changes in 11 percent of the women. For related morbidities, anemia was present in 63 percent of the women, followed by obesity (43 percent), hypertension (18 percent), and urinary tract infection (14 percent). Regression analysis of risk factors demonstrated the contribution of social conditions and medical factors to these diseases. Reproductive tract infections were shown to occur more frequently with uterovaginal prolapse, IUD use, presence of husband (regular sexual activity), and unhygienic behavior. Genital prolapse increased with age and number of deliveries. Age, recent pregnancy, education, socioeconomic class, and workload showed significant associations with related morbidity conditions. This evidence challenges national health programs to go beyond safe motherhood, child survival, and family planning in its services to women, and to consider the social context of health as well.

This article is based on a survey of a random sample of 509 ever-married nonpregnant women residing in two villages in the Giza Governorate of Egypt, each of whom responded to a questionnaire on symptoms of gynecological conditions and then was accompanied to the village health center for a gynecological exam. A response rate of 91 percent was achieved. The article focuses on reproductive tract infections and genital prolapse, highly prevalent conditions in the community. The women's reports of symptoms are compared with the medical diagnoses, using indicators of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and percentage of agreement. The findings show that women's reports of vaginal discharge agree moderately well with the physicians' observations but are not good predictors of the occurrence of reproductive tract infections. Women's reports of the symptoms of prolapse do not agree well with medical diagnoses of the condition. The findings are analyzed, taking into account the social context of the lives of the women surveyed to arrive at conclusions as to how to improve ways of learning from women themselves about gynecological problems in the community.

The paper reviews key health problems of women in the Arab World. It relies on data and information from international yearbooks, regional data bases, and small scale field studies. The relevant context in which women live; of lingering illiteracy rates, lack of access to cash income, and increasing poverty is described. Reproductive health is reviewed within this context pointing to trends of delayed marriage and declining fertility in some countries while other countries maintain high levels. Similar variability is observed in contraceptive use rates and the interaction of contraception and health is discussed. Evidence points to high levels of reproductive morbidity. The socio-cultural context is found particularly relevant to pregnancy and childbirth, seen as natural processes by women, to experiences of menopause, and to violence against women, particularly female circumcision. A holistic policy perspective is suggested to address these problems.

This study aimed to assess the antibacterial efficacy of Gum Arabic‐based silver nanoparticles against certain fish bacterial pathogens. Silver nanoparticles were green‐synthesized using Gum Arabic (AgNPs‐GA), which served as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The AgNPs‐GA were analysed using a UV spectrophotometer set at a wavelength of 450 nm. Transmission electron micrograph analysis showed that nearly all AgNPs‐GA were sphere‐shaped and 10.0 nm in diameter. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed a narrow size distribution curve, whose highest peak was at 26.2 nm. The particles were negatively charged (−17.1 ± 4.9 mV). Silver concentration measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) and found to be 104 µg/ml. The in vitro antibacterial activity of AgNPs‐GA was tested against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gum Arabic‐silver nanoparticles exhibited clear inhibition zones of 22 and 20 mm against A. hydrophila and P. aeruginosa, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.625 µg/ml and 3.25 µg/ml for AgNPs‐GA respectively. The antibiofilm activity indicated that AgNPs‐GA significantly inhibit A. hydrophila and P. aeruginosa biofilm formation at AgNPs‐GA concentrations of 1.625 µg/ml. There was no significant difference at a AgNPs‐GA concentration of 0.8215 µg/ml between the control‐positive groups and the AgNPs‐GA treatment groups in both bacterial strains. In summary, green‐synthesized sliver nanoparticles display efficient antibacterial properties, which suggests that they would be suitable for use in a commercialized antibacterial product for the aquaculture industry.

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