This study aimed to describe the prevalence, pattern and reasons for self-medication among adults in Alexandria, Egypt. In a community-based survey during 2012, a representative sample of 1100 adults completed a predesigned interview questionnaire on self-medication practices by drugs and complementary or alternative medicines (CAM). A majority of them practised self-medication (86.4%), mostly using both drugs and CAM (77.5%). The most commonly used drugs were analgesics (96.7%), and cough and cold preparations (81.9%), but 53.9% of respondents reported self-medication with antibiotics. The most frequently used CAM were herbs (91.6%), followed by spiritual healing (9.4%) and cupping and acupuncture (6.4%). CAM improved the condition according to 95.2% of users. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, occupation and the presence of chronic conditions were the independent factors significantly affecting the practice of self-medication with drugs. ‫ـري.‬ ‫بالعقاقـ‬ ‫ـذايت‬ ‫الـ‬ ‫ـب‬ ‫التطبيـ‬ ‫ـة‬ ‫ممارسـ‬ ‫ـى‬ ‫عـ‬ ‫ـري‬ ‫كبـ‬ ‫ـكل‬ ‫بشـ‬ ‫ـر‬ ‫تؤثـ‬ ‫ـي‬ ‫التـ‬ ‫ـتقلة‬ ‫املسـ‬ ‫ـل‬ ‫العوامـ‬ ‫ـت‬ ‫كانـ‬ ‫ـة‬ ‫مزمنـ‬ ‫ـراض‬ ‫أمـ‬ ‫ـود‬ ‫ووجـ‬ ‫ـة‬ ‫واملهنـ‬ ‫ـر‬ ‫العمـ‬Automédication avec recours aux médicaments conventionnels, complémentaires et alternatifs à Alexandrie (Égypte) : prévalence, tendances et déterminants RÉSUMÉ La présente étude avait pour objectif de décrire la prévalence, les tendances ainsi que les motifs de l'automédication chez des adultes à Alexandrie (Égypte). Dans une enquête communautaire en 2012, un échantillon représentatif de 1100 adultes a répondu à un questionnaire prédéfini au cours d'un entretien sur leurs pratiques d'automédication à base de médicaments conventionnels, complémentaires et alternatifs. Une majorité d'entre eux pratiquait l'automédication (86,4 %), et la plupart consommait à la fois des médicaments conventionnels et des médicaments complémentaires et alternatifs (77,5 %). Les médicaments conventionnels les plus utilisés étaient les analgésiques (96,7 %), et les préparations contre la toux et le rhume (81,9 %), tandis que 53,9 % des répondants indiquaient consommer des antibiotiques en automédication. Dans la catégorie de la médecine complémentaire et alternative, le recours aux médicaments à base de plantes (91,6 %) arrivait en tête, suivi par les soins spirituels (9,4 %), l'application de ventouses et l'acupuncture (6,4 %). La consommation de médicaments complémentaires et alternatifs permet d'améliorer l'état de santé selon 95,2 % des utilisateurs. L'analyse de régression logistique a révélé que l'âge, l'emploi occupé et la présence de maladies chroniques étaient les facteurs indépendants qui influaient significativement sur la pratique de l'automédication à base de médicaments conventionnels. ‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫العرشون‬ ‫و‬ ‫احلادي‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫الرابع‬ ‫العدد‬ 257

Introduction Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a serious human rights violation and an important health concern during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to estimate the proportion of IPV among adult Arab women before and during the COVID-19 lockdown and to identify its possible predictors during the lockdown. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2020 using an online questionnaire. The sample included 490 adult Arab women aged 18 years and above, who live with their husbands. Data was collected using a Google forms designed questionnaire that included the socio-demographic characteristics, nature of lockdown, and exposure to different types of IPV before and during COVID-19 lockdown and the frequency of their occurrence. McNemar’s test was used to determine differences in the exposure to IPV before and during the lockdown, while logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of exposure to IPV during the lockdown. Results Half of women reported that they were ever exposed to IPV with psychological violence ranking 1st. Exposure to any type of IPV and exposure to psychological, physical, and sexual violence have significantly increased during the lockdown compared to before the lockdown. The frequency of exposure to the different types of IPV ranged from 1–3 times per month to almost every day, but the most commonly reported was 1–3 times per month. Predictors of exposure to IPV during the COVID-19 lockdown included country of residence, family income, and whether the husband lost his job during lockdown. Conclusions IPV has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the Arab countries, and it was associated with the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic on families. Actions towards raising awareness about the problem among professionals and the community, early detection, and provision of appropriate services are mandatory.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, obtaining reliable prevalence rates for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) is challenging. One of the tools used to identify CSHCN is the CSHCN Screener (not available in Arabic). The aim is to test the feasibility of using an Arabic version of CSHCN screener in identifying CSHCN in the Egyptian setup and to estimate their prevalence in Alexandria. METHODS: A community-based survey was conducted among a representative sample of children using a multistage cluster sampling technique. A pre-designed interviewing questionnaire and the Arabic translation of CSHCN screener were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of CSHCN was 12.2% and 91.8% of them had the three domains of health care needs. The most prevalent conditions requiring special health care were sensory and cognitive impairments and impaired mobility. Type of family was the only significant factor associated with special health care needs. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the screener can easily be used and help in identifying the majority of children that need to be the focus of the National health care services. It is recommended that the school health services add the screener to assist depicting the existing gaps in the health care system.

AAP was the basis for effective patient-health care provider communication and patient real time asthma flare-up self-management to achieve and sustain better asthma control in asthmatic adults.

Adolescent risk-taking and aggressive behaviours are among the most visible forms of violence in society. A study was carried out to identify the prevalence and risk factors for aggression, violence and criminal behaviour among adolescents in Alexandria, Egypt. Using multistage, cluster sampling of families from all health districts in Alexandria, the mothers of 783 adolescents aged 11-19 years answered an Arabic version of the Mentor Research Institute screening questionnaire. Overall 26.9% of adolescents were assessed to be at high risk and 20.2% at extremely high risk of aggression and criminal behaviour. Living in urban/slum areas, male sex, low level of parents' education/occupation, exposure to violence within the family and changes in behaviour of any family member were associated with risk of aggression/violence. In multivariate analysis, the significant independent variables were adolescents' sex, presence of behavioural changes in the family, violence against brothers and sisters and substance abuse by any family member.