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The MCH handbook may be an effective tool to improve (i) communication between the client and the health provider and (ii) women's knowledge- and health-seeking behaviors related to maternal, newborn, and child health.

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The diversity, ecology, and seasonality for sand flies from two localities in Jenin District, the Palestinian Territories, were studied. A total of 12,579 sand flies (5,420 Phlebotomus and 7,159 Sergentomyia) were collected during the study period. The genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia are represented by 13 and nine species and subspecies, respectively. Species account was given for all collected species. CDC light traps yielded 7,649 (60.8%) of the total captured sand flies, while sticky traps and aspirators contributed to 36.4 and 2

BackgroundRisk factors for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) have not been assessed among Palestinian Arabs (PA) and Israeli Jews (IJ).MethodsIn a case-control study we investigated self-reported medical and lifestyle exposures, reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals [CIs], by ethnicity, for overall B-NHL and subtypes.ResultsWe recruited 823 cases and 808 healthy controls. Among 307 PA/516 IJ B-NHL cases (mean age at diagnosis = 51 [±17] versus 60 [±15] years, respectively) subtype distributions differed, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) being prominent among PA (71%) compared to IJ (41%); follicular lymphoma (FL), was observed in 14% versus 28%, and marginal zone lymphoma, in 2% versus 14%, respectively. Overall B-NHL in both populations was associated with recreational sun exposure OR = 1.43 [CI:1.07–1.91], black hair-dye use OR = 1.70 [CI:1.00–2.87], hospitalization for infection OR = 1.68 [CI:1.34–2.11], and first-degree relative with hematopoietic cancer, OR = 1.69 [CI:1.16–2.48]. An inverse association was noted with alcohol use, OR = 0.46 [CI:0.34–0.62]. Subtype-specific exposures included smoking (FL, OR = 1.46 [CI:1.01–2.11]) and >monthly indoor pesticide use (DLBCL, OR = 2.01 [CI:1.35–3.00]). Associations observed for overall B-NHL in PA only included: gardening OR = 1.93 [CI:1.39–2.70]; history of herpes, mononucleosis, rubella, blood transfusion (OR>2.5, P<0.01 for all); while for IJ risk factors included growing fruits and vegetables, OR = 1.87 [CI:1.11–3.15]; and self-reported autoimmune diseases, OR = 1.99 [CI:1.34–2.95].ConclusionsIn these geographically proximate populations we found some unique risk factors for B-NHL. Heterogeneity in the observed associations by ethnicity could reflect differences in lifestyle, medical systems, and reporting patterns, while variations by histology infer specific etiologic factors for lymphoma subtypes.