BackgroundPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common gynecological endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Despite its heavy burden on female reproduction and general health, there is no study regarding PCOS prevalence in Palestine. This study aims to establish prevalence of PCOS among female university students at An-Najah National University-Palestine and to explore its possible risk factors.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted on 137 female students using convenience sampling method for age group (18–24) years. PCOS cases were identified according to the National Institute of health (NIH) criteria through clinical interview and assessment for participants at the University clinics. Menstrual irregularities regarding cycle and flow were identified and clinical hyperandrogenism was assessed as the self-reported degree of hirsutism using the modified Ferriman Gallwey (mF-G) scoring method of more than 8 score. Biochemical hyperandrogenism for girls with menstrual irregularities was assessed by measuring free testosterone level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 applying descriptive methods; different risk factor relationships were estimated using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of PCOS was 7.3% , acne was the only studied risk factor among others to be statistically significantly related to PCOS patients (OR = 8.430, P-value = 0.015). Clinical Hirsutism was found in 27% of participants, 70% of whom had idiopathic hirsutism.ConclusionsPrevalence of PCOS in Palestine seems to be relatively high but similar to other Mediterranean statistics. We recommend further studies using wider age group and larger sample for all parts of Palestine in order to generalize results.

Background:Tobacco use is one of the major public health threats nowadays. Smoking can affect everybody organ. Health professionals should play pivotal roles in tobacco control, and their attitude and practice toward tobacco use can affect the health of the community. Therefore, assessing and influencing physicians’ attitudes and practice are one of the alternatives to reduce smoking prevalence in the community. We aimed to assess smoking status among medical physicians in the West Bank, Palestine to better understand their future role in any smoking cessation program.Material and methods:A cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization Global Health Professional Survey questionnaire was conducted. A non-probability sampling technique from a total of 6500 physicians registered in the Palestinian Medical Association in the West Bank was used.Results:The age ranged from 23 to 78 years with a mean of 34.92 years. Current smokers represented 60.3%. Of them, 18.5% were both cigarettes and water pipe smokers. The main reason that motivates the physician to smoke is experimenting (57.9%). Also stress (31.8%) and social pressure (26.4%) were of the most common causes to start smoking. Almost all medical doctors have a high level of knowledge regarding the health consequences of smoking. Smokers were less likely to hold favorable attitudes toward smoking cessation and support tobacco control policy compared with non-smokers (P-values < .05).Conclusions:Physicians’ degree of awareness and knowledge about their role in aiding patients to quit smoking are high. However, smokers’ attitudes toward smoking cessation programs need to be improved to increase their involvement in such interventional programs.

BackgroundRadon gas is considered as a main risk factor for lung cancer and found naturally in rock, soil, and water. The objective of this study was to determine the radon level in the drinking water sources in Nablus city in order to set up a sound policy on water management in Palestine.MethodsThis was a descriptive study carried out in two phases with a random sampling technique in the second phase. Primarily, samples were taken from 4 wells and 5 springs that supplied Nablus city residents. For each source, 3 samples were taken and each was analyzed in 4 cycles by RAD 7 device manufactured by Durridge Company. Secondly, from the seven regions of the Nablus city, three samples were taken from the residential tap water of each region. Regarding the old city, ten samples were taken. Finally, the mean radon concentration value for each source was calculated.ResultsThe mean (range) concentration of radon in the main sources were 6.9 (1.5-23.4) Becquerel/liter (Bq/L). Separately, springs and wells' means were 4.6 Bq/L and 9.5 Bq/L; respectively. For the residential tap water in the 7 regions, the results of the mean (range) concentration values were found to be 1.0 (0.9-1.3) Bq/L. For the old city, the mean (range) concentration values were 2.3 (0.9-3.9) Bq/L.ConclusionsExcept for Al-Badan well, radon concentrations in the wells and springs were below the United State Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminated level (U.S EPA MCL). The level was much lower for tap water. Although the concentration of radon in the tap water of old city were below the MCL, it was higher than other regions in the city. Preventive measures and population awareness on radon's exposure are recommended.

Breastfeeding educational and health promotion program and policy for EBF implemented by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) should continue with special attention to older mothers at marriage, and to babies born by cesarean section.

No abstract

Aim:Chronic pain is common in terminally ill patients with cancer and affects their quality of life. In this study, we wanted to evaluate pain severity and the adequacy of prescribed analgesics in terminally ill patients with cancer in North Palestine.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in North Palestine on 77 terminally ill patients with cancer. Pain experience was evaluated with Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF). Pain management index (PMI) was calculated to determine the adequacy of interventions. The relationships between adequacy of pain management and socioeconomic and clinical factors were analyzed by the covariance method. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 15.0 [SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA]).Results:Fifty-nine patients (76.6%) reported moderate-to-severe pain. According to the PMI, only 64.9% of the patients received adequate pain management. Thirty-five patients (45%) wanted additional treatment or an increase in the dose of pain medications. Although men and women reported similar pain severities, women were more likely to be inadequately treated (P = 0.027). Pain severity was significantly less in patients who received health-care services at least once in the last month before the interview, compared to those without recent access to health care (P = 0.024).Conclusion:There is substantial inadequacy in pain management in patients with cancer. The BPI-SF should be routinely used to evaluate pain severity, and analgesics should be prescribed equitably without discrimination with regard to gender and socioeconomic status of patients.

No abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, which can be early detected by mammogram test (an x ray of the breast). Screening mammography is one of the best techniques that can find majority of breast cancer cases in women over 50. The main objective of this study is to illustrate the different socio-demographic patterns of use and their relationship to mammography test results in Nablus district. Methods: This is a cross sectional study that included all women from Nablus area who underwent mammography test in the Palestinian Family Planning & Protection Association center (PFPPA) during 2007. Socio-demographic data (age, marital status, parity, residence, breastfeeding, education level and source of referral) from 556 files of women were collected, in addition to the mammography test result whether malignant or not. Data then were analyzed applying descriptive studies, and chi square test. Results: most of the study sample were of age interval (35-47) years old, married, breastfed, with parity interval 3-5, highly educated, inhabiting the city, and were self-referred. There was a significant statistical association between age, parity and mammography test results (p يعتبر سرطان الثدي الأكثر شيوعا بين السيدات والذي يمكن اكتشافه مبكرا عن طريق التصوير الشعاعي (فحص الماموغرافي). ويعتبر الماموغرافي المسحي من أفضل الطرق للتشخيص المبكر لسرطان الثدي لدى السيدات فوق الخمسين. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى بحث العوامل الديمغرافية والاجتماعية المرتبطة بنمط استخدام فحص الماموغرافي ومدى ارتباطها بنتائج الفحص. المنهج: شملت هذه الدراسة المقطعية جميع السيدات اللواتي خضعن لفحص الماموغرافي في مركز مكافحة السرطان وفحص الأنسجة التابع لجمعية تنظيم وحماية الأسرة خلال عام ٢٠٠٧ . تم جمع البيانات الديمغرافية والاجتماعية ( العمر، الحالة الاجتماعية، عدد الولادات، مكان السكن، الرضاعة الطبيعية، مستوى التعليم، ومصدر التحويل) لملفات ٥٥٦ امرأة بالإضافة إلى نتيجة الفحص، ثم تم تحليل البيانات إحصائيا. النتائج: معظم السيدات في ٤٧ ، ومعظمهن كن متزوجات، يسكن في المدينة، ارضعن طبيعيا، حصلن على تعليم - الدراسة تراوحت أعمارهن بين ٣٥ ٥ أبناء، وقمن بتحويل أنفسهن للفحص. كان هناك ارتباط ذو دلالة إحصائية عالية بين العمر وعدد مرات - عال، أنجبن ٣ الإنجاب مع نتيجة فحص الماموغرافي، ولم يكن هناك ارتباط إحصائي هام بين باقي العوامل مع نتيجة الفحص، ولم يلاحظ فرق في هذه النتائج عند مقارنتها مع البيانات الديمغرافية والاجتماعية للسيدات اللواتي قمن بتحويل أنفسهن للفحص. الخلاصة: هناك وعي جيد في مدينة نابلس باتجاه فحص الماموغرافي غير أن الفئات الخطرة لا تزال غير واعية لأهمية الفحص، لذا فإن التوعية يجب أن تشمل السيدات فوق الخمسين، السيدات غير المتزوجات وغير المتعلمات وسكان المخيمات.