BackgroundMaxillofacial fractures in children are less frequent compared to adults but result in special complications affecting the growth, function and esthetics.AimThe study aimed at assessing the characteristics and the pattern of facial fractures among children seen at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital (KTDH).MethodThe study included 390 patients presenting with maxillofacial trauma at KTDH during a year period (2010–2011).ResultsA total of 390 patients, diagnosed with facial fractures, were seen at KTDH; 14.1 % (55) were children below 16 years of age with the mean age of 10 years (SD ± 3.9). The ratio of males to females was 2.2:1. Most fractures were due to road traffic accidents (RTA) 56.4 %, followed by daily living activities 21.8 % and assault 16.4 %. The most prevalent anatomic sites of fractures were mandible 77 %; combination fractures i.e. more than one site 32.7 % and zygomatic-complex (13.5 %). Concomitant injuries were found in 9.1 %. Almost half of the patients were managed conservatively 49.1 %, closed reduction 34.5 % and surgical open reduction 16.4 %.ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicated that pediatric facial fractures constitute 14.1 % of the total number of facial fractures. RTA was the main cause, which should be considered in legislative and preventive strategies.

BackgroundOral cancer is a preventable disease. Its occurrence is mostly due to lifestyle. In Sudan, the use of smokeless tobacco (Toombak) has long been linked to oral cancer. Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer may well aid in early diagnosis and treatment. This is bound to result in increasing survival rates, as well as reducing the oral cancer burden on the society. This study aimed to assess oral cancer awareness regarding knowledge of signs, symptoms, risk factors and sources of the information. Furthermore, it attempts to evaluate attitudes towards oral cancer screening and any previous experience of screening, amongst dental patients attending University of Science and Technology (UST) Dental Teaching Hospital. Omdurman, Sudan.MethodsA hospital based cross-sectional study, interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted amongst 500 adult patients attending the UST Dental Hospital during 2015.ResultsA total of 57.7% (286) of the individuals demonstrated good knowledge of signs and symptoms, whereas 49% (139) expressed good knowledge of risk factors of oral cancer. For the majority of the individuals 66.1% (290), the most common source of information about oral cancer was from the media, while 33.9% individuals (149), obtained knowledge from direct contact of health workers. The overwhelming majority, 93.2% (466) never screened for oral cancer despite their positive attitude towards it 66.4% (332). Knowledge of risk factors associated significantly with those reported positive attitude towards oral cancer screening and those reported direct contact with health workers as a source of information, (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, females and those living in urban districts scores higher than their counterpart in knowledge of risk factor of oral cancer. In addition, those employed 58.6% (280) and 62.8% (164) with correct believes about oral cancer showed significant association with positive knowledge of signs and symptoms (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsAwareness levels, knowledge of risk factors and identifying early signs and symptoms of oral cancer necessitate the need for more structured preventive programs using media. Dentists and health workers should do more because they have a pivotal role in early diagnosis by performing oral cancer screening, raising levels of knowledge and in rectifying misconceptions about oral cancer. This would entail a reduction in high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with oral cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12903-017-0351-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundToombak is a form of smokeless tobacco, locally made and consumed in Sudan. It is associated with a number of health hazards, particularly oral cancer. This study was set out to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of its use, and to explore the socio-cognitive factors affecting the intention to use Toombak among secondary school students in Khartoum State, Sudan.MethodsA cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in 2013–2014 where schools were randomly selected using a one-stage stratified sampling procedure. The sample size was calculated to consist of 1526 students. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, which contained some cognitive constructs; information received, social image, attitudes, normative social influence, accessibility to Toombak, socio-demographics and Toombak use related variables.ResultsA total of 1670 secondary school students participated in the study. More than half of them 53.4% were <15-years-old and 53.6% were females. Only 5.3% of the students reported intention to use Toombak. Among the students 10.9% were ever Toombak users, 81.6% reported a positive attitude towards its use and 60.7% had received information about its harmful effects. A total of 72.6% reported normative social influence towards using Toombak and 62.5% perceived a negative social image attached to its use. Most of the students, 70.8% reported exposure to anti-Toombak information, 41.8% confirmed exposure to Toombak advertisement and 87.5% reported indirect access to its sale. Younger students reported ever use of Toombak less frequently than their older counterparts (38.4% versus 61.6%), p < 0.001. Males reported ever use of Toombak more frequently than did females (74.3% versus 25.7%), p < 0.001. According to the regression model, individuals who perceived a positive social image of Toombak users and had past experience were more likely to intend to its use.ConclusionsThe present study suggested that the prevalence of Toombak use among Sudanese secondary school students is low and that male and older students are more frequent users. Students’ decision to use Toombak was based upon past experience with Toombak use and the social image attached to its use. Easy access to Toombak and encouragement from friends and classmates were among the factors which support intention to use Toombak but only in the unadjusted analyses.

Background COVID-19 a pandemic declared by WHO is the first in recent history pose challenges on public health. Health Belief Model is a psychosocial model explains and predicts health-related behaviours. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of the Sudanese on COVID-19-related preventive measures. Methods A Cross-sectional study using online-questionnaire was conducted between 1st-16th April 2020 among Sudanese adults. We used a snowball sampling technique starting from known professional and social media groups and individuals and then was distributed on various internet platforms. The survey instrument was based on HBM constructs. Results Some 877 individuals participated in the survey with a mean age of 37.8 more males mostly having a university education employed and residing in Khartoum. More than half of the participants scored high in almost all Health Belief Model constructs except for benefits of hand hygiene. The findings show that the HBM constructs are correlated to each other as well as to other socio-demographic factors. Self-efficacy correlated negatively with susceptibility while positively with severity benefits of and barriers to hand hygiene, benefits and barriers to social distancing respectively. Conclusion The findings show that the HBM constructs are correlated to each other as well as to other socio-demographic factors. Self-efficacy must be taken into account as a strong changing factor to susceptibility and severity perceptions. Correlations found in this study might help drive behaviour-changing efforts.

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to assess the association between toombak (smokeless tobacco) advertisement at point-of-sale (PoS) and its use among adolescents in Sudan. METHODS A cross-sectional school-based and self-administered questionnaire study was conducted. Schools were randomly selected using a one-stage stratified sampling procedure, during 2013-2014, as part of a larger research project focusing on the use of toombak among secondary school students in Khartoum State, Sudan. The sample size was 1526 students. Data were collected on exposure to toombak advertisement, social acceptability, perceived accessibility to toombak, susceptibility, and toombak use. RESULTS A total of 41.8% of the adolescents were exposed to an advertisement at PoS, while 12.5% perceived direct access to toombak, 5.3% reported that they were susceptible to use toombak, and 10.9% were ever toombak users. Exposure to the advertisement of toombak at PoS was found to be associated with the older age group (44.3%) (p≤0.05). Males were more than females (45.2% vs 38.8%; p≤0.05). Those exposed to toombak advertisements at PoS reported more social acceptability towards toombak (48.9% vs 37.6%; p≤0.001) and direct accessibility to toombak (68.8% vs 47.2%; p≤0.05). Ever toombak users reported higher exposure to advertisements than non-users (54.5% vs 40.3%; p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to toombak advertisements at PoS was found to be high and associated with increased toombak use in Khartoum State, Sudan, in addition to increasing social acceptability to its use and perceived easy accessibility. The current law, which bans toombak advertisement and promotion at PoS, needs to be enforced. AFFILIATION