Background: Congenital anomalies are among the leading causes of fetal loss, despite it can be identified prior to birth through advanced technology in expert hands. Our research aimed at estimating the prevalence of ...Background: Congenital anomalies are among the leading causes of fetal loss, despite it can be identified prior to birth through advanced technology in expert hands. Our research aimed at estimating the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Sudan. Methods: A facility-based retrospective cross-sectional study combined with a community-based survey through a telephone interview was implemented on a purposive convenient sample of 138 participants. The data were computerized in Epi Info 7. Google Earth Pro enabled to collect the geographical coordinates for the residence of the participants. Descriptive statistics were performed through SPSS 23 and ArcGIS 10.3 was used to generate the geographical distribution map of congenital defects to visualize the catchment areas of Soba Ultrasonography Unit. Results: Of the 138 participants, the estimated prevalence of congenital defects was 2.2/10,000 live births. The ultrasonography screening revealed that neural tube defects were the most prevalent anomalies with 13.0% (18/138), which represented 47.4% (18/38) of all defects. Concerning children, a mortality rate of 23.2% (32/138) was reported. Conclusions: The child mortality rate post ultrasound screening of 23.2%, and the neural tube defects being the most common anomalies appealed to Sudan health authorities for focusing on more preventive antenatal practices to strengthen and promote maternal and child health.展开更多
Background: Cervical cancer is the second common cancer among women worldwide. It is a preventable cancer, and early detection of precancerous conditions through the Papanicolaou cytology screening (Pap smear) is a ke...Background: Cervical cancer is the second common cancer among women worldwide. It is a preventable cancer, and early detection of precancerous conditions through the Papanicolaou cytology screening (Pap smear) is a key aspect of prevention;it is accepted worldwide as an efficient tool for secondary prevention. While the PS test is simple, inexpensive, and relatively reliable as a method of diagnosing cervical cancer, most women do not take the test. Therefore, this study is sought to describe the barriers to pap smear uptake among Sudanese women. Materials and Method: This total coverage observational, analytical and cross sectional, hospital-based study was conducted in Saad Abu El Ella Hospital in April 2022. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire to assess the perceived barriers of 93 participants. All data were computerized using Microsoft Excel’17 and the data were described and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS23). Results: The findings revealed that the mean age of the participants was 39.5 years and only 3.2% had ever undergone a pap smear test. Identified barriers were lack of information, not knowing where to go, and fear of pain. The majority, 72% are willing to routinely perform a pap smear test if well informed about it. The study also demonstrates that there is a significant correlation between perceived barriers score and willingness to perform the pap smear test (p value = 0.008), and between the perceived barriers score and the sociodemographic factors: Age (p value = 0.006), educational level (p value = 0.028) and occupation (p value = 0.040), but no association with the economic status was found (p value = 0.378). Conclusion: The detection rate is too low compared to the national target of over 70%. Therefore, more work is needed to reduce perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening by providing education/raising for popular awareness;addressing misconceptions and false beliefs;informing women about the necessity and importance of Pap smear;and 展开更多
文摘Background: Congenital anomalies are among the leading causes of fetal loss, despite it can be identified prior to birth through advanced technology in expert hands. Our research aimed at estimating the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Sudan. Methods: A facility-based retrospective cross-sectional study combined with a community-based survey through a telephone interview was implemented on a purposive convenient sample of 138 participants. The data were computerized in Epi Info 7. Google Earth Pro enabled to collect the geographical coordinates for the residence of the participants. Descriptive statistics were performed through SPSS 23 and ArcGIS 10.3 was used to generate the geographical distribution map of congenital defects to visualize the catchment areas of Soba Ultrasonography Unit. Results: Of the 138 participants, the estimated prevalence of congenital defects was 2.2/10,000 live births. The ultrasonography screening revealed that neural tube defects were the most prevalent anomalies with 13.0% (18/138), which represented 47.4% (18/38) of all defects. Concerning children, a mortality rate of 23.2% (32/138) was reported. Conclusions: The child mortality rate post ultrasound screening of 23.2%, and the neural tube defects being the most common anomalies appealed to Sudan health authorities for focusing on more preventive antenatal practices to strengthen and promote maternal and child health.
文摘Background: Cervical cancer is the second common cancer among women worldwide. It is a preventable cancer, and early detection of precancerous conditions through the Papanicolaou cytology screening (Pap smear) is a key aspect of prevention;it is accepted worldwide as an efficient tool for secondary prevention. While the PS test is simple, inexpensive, and relatively reliable as a method of diagnosing cervical cancer, most women do not take the test. Therefore, this study is sought to describe the barriers to pap smear uptake among Sudanese women. Materials and Method: This total coverage observational, analytical and cross sectional, hospital-based study was conducted in Saad Abu El Ella Hospital in April 2022. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire to assess the perceived barriers of 93 participants. All data were computerized using Microsoft Excel’17 and the data were described and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS23). Results: The findings revealed that the mean age of the participants was 39.5 years and only 3.2% had ever undergone a pap smear test. Identified barriers were lack of information, not knowing where to go, and fear of pain. The majority, 72% are willing to routinely perform a pap smear test if well informed about it. The study also demonstrates that there is a significant correlation between perceived barriers score and willingness to perform the pap smear test (p value = 0.008), and between the perceived barriers score and the sociodemographic factors: Age (p value = 0.006), educational level (p value = 0.028) and occupation (p value = 0.040), but no association with the economic status was found (p value = 0.378). Conclusion: The detection rate is too low compared to the national target of over 70%. Therefore, more work is needed to reduce perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening by providing education/raising for popular awareness;addressing misconceptions and false beliefs;informing women about the necessity and importance of Pap smear;and