Background Vitamin D deficiency is now recognised as a pandemic. The normal range of Vitamin D in the Arab countries is much lower than the international standards. Several Arab countries have published studies assessing serum Vitamin D levels among women––to date there is no national study assessing Vitamin D levels among Egyptian women. Objective The aim of the study is to measure Vitamin D level among Egyptian women of childbearing age. Patients and Methods We included 100 healthy adult females of childbearing age, who were attending a family medicine center in Cairo, Egypt. A validated interview questionnaire was conducted with participants, thereafter BMI and serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were measured. Results The age of the included women ranged from 19 to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 ± 8.47 years. Only 39% of participants were employed and 61% were housewives. About 76% of participants were married, 20% unmarried and 4% divorced. Most of participants (82%) wore hijab; only 9% wore niqab and 9% wore no scarf. Only 44% of participants had normal levels of Vitamin D (˃20‐150 ng/mL). About 43% of the participants were Vitamin D deficient and 13% were Vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Egyptian women of childbearing age. A routine monitoring screening for Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D health education are required to minimise risk factors among women of childbearing age.

The SARS-COV-2 rapid spread caused an international public health emergency with unprecedented rates of morbidity and mortality. Post COVID-19 condition occurs as a spectrum of symptoms that present four or more weeks after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. Most published data to date state 50-70% of hospitalized patients experienced at least one post-acute COVID-19 symptom up to 3 months after discharge. Commonly reported symptoms include; neurocognitive post COVID-19 (fatigue, dizziness, inattention, and brain fog), respiratory post-COVID (dyspnea, chest pain, and cough), and mental health related symptoms (insomnia, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder). Additionally, gastro-intestinal post COVID-19 (diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) along with decline in quality of life and decreased ability to perform activities of daily living were reported. The response to post COVID-19 symptoms is still in its infancy despite being an emerging crisis as scientific evidence and robust data are nonetheless required for clear definition, identification of time frame, classification and management of the condition. New studies are needed to identify total and individual incidence/prevalence rates of different clinical presentations of post COVID-19 symptoms. These future studies will help us to o improve early recognition of long term symptoms after acute infection of COVID-19.

Background Although most organizations recommend breastfeeding for at least one year due to its well-known beneficial effects, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in many developing countries was quite low and the current prevalence of breastfeeding and predictive factors for its discontinuation are not well-known. Objectives To identify prevalence and predictive factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding in Primary Healthcare (PHC) Centers in Cairo, Egypt. Methodology A cross sectional study, among mothers attended first six months immunization sessions in three PHC Centers were selected via a convenient sample, A total sample of 180 mothers, 60 from each PHC Center, accepted to participate in our study and were subjected to an interview questionnaire. The questionnaire used was previously validated and pre-tested. Data collection took the period from April to August 2019. Comparison between exclusive and nonexclusive breastfeeding according to possible risk factors was done. Results The frequency of breastfeeding among the participants was 90.6%; however the total (0-6 months) exclusive breastfeeding frequency was only 39.4%. Our logistic regression model showed that exclusive breastfeeding decreased with progressive increase in infant’s age with OR of 0.74, and mothers with good knowledge about proper practice of breastfeeding (e.g. infant’s chin should be immersed in mother's breast and most nipple halo in the infant lower lip) adhered more to exclusive breastfeeding with OR of 2.51. Also, it showed that, during working hours, mothers who fed their infants other than breast milk adhered less to exclusive breastfeeding with OR of 0.19. Conclusions The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is quite low, a problem seen in most of developing countries. The predictive factors for exclusive breastfeeding are, younger infant’s age, good knowledge of the mothers about proper practice of breastfeeding, and mothers insisting on breastfeeding during working hours.

Introduction. Although most organizations recommend breastfeeding for at least one year due to its well-known beneficial effects, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in many developing countries was quite low. Aim. To identify prevalence and predictive factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding in Primary Healthcare (PHC) Centers in Cairo, Egypt. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study, among mothers attended first six months immunization sessions in three PHC Centers were selected via a convenient sample, A total sample of 180 mothers, 60 from each PHC Center, were subjected to an interview questionnaire. The questionnaire used was previously validated and pre-tested. Data collection took the period from April to August 2019. Comparison between exclusive and nonexclusive breastfeeding according to possible risk factors was done. Results. The frequency of breastfeeding among the participants was 90.6%; however the total exclusive breastfeeding frequency was only 39.4%. Our logistic regression model showed that exclusive breastfeeding decreased with progressive increase in infant’s age (OR 0.74), and mothers with good knowledge about proper practice of breastfeeding adhered more to exclusive breastfeeding (OR 2.51). Also, it showed that, during working hours, mothers who fed their infants other than breast milk adhered less to exclusive breastfeeding (OR 0.19). Conclusion. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is quite low. The predictive factors for exclusive breastfeeding are, younger infant’s age, good knowledge of the mothers about proper practice of breastfeeding, and mothers insisting on breastfeeding during working hours.