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PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking among secondary-school boys in Bahrain: prevalence and risk factors.

To determine the prevalence of smoking among male secondary school students in Bahrain and to identify their risk factors for smoking, we surveyed a random sample of students by questionnaire. The prevalence of smoking was 26.6%, 25.5% and 25.4% among first-year, second-year and third-year students respectively. Cigarettes (21.0%), water-pipes (13.0%) and cigars (1.6%) were popular. Smokers and non-smokers had similar socioeconomic profiles, but differed in degree of disapproval of smoking shown by close contacts and whether close contacts were smokers. The prevalence of smoking among male secondary-school students in Bahrain did not decline despite intense anti-smoking efforts in the last decade, perhaps indicating the effectiveness of tobacco advertising and promotions that target youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Oesophageal cancer in Bahrain.

ABSTRACT Data from all 148 cases of oesophageal cancer in Bahrain during 1952-99 were analysed according to patient sex and age and site and histological pattern of tumour, and compared with other Gulf countries. In Bahrain, oesophageal cancer accounted for 2.6% of malignant neoplasms. The female:male ratio was 1.8:1, and the majority of patients were > or =51 years and < or =70 years of age. The lower and upper third of the oesophagus were the most and least frequently involved sites, respectively. Squamous carcinoma (males) and adenocarcinoma (females) were the main histological types. There is varying consistency between these data and those of other Gulf countries having similar anthropological and demographic profiles. A prospective study may help to better understand the aetiology of the disease and inform preventive policies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in Bahrain.

OBJECTIVE: We report here an analysis of results of anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) measurements reported from the Central Laboratory of Bahrain over a period of 3 years and 9 months. METHODS: This study included all blood samples received at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain serology laboratory for the determination of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies during the period of January 2000 to September 2003. A total of 4,739 specimens were assayed for IgG and 1,947 for IgM. RESULTS: An overall seropositivity of 21.8% for IgG and 10.3% for IgM antibodies were found with no gender differences for either IgG or IgM. In addition, no statistically significant positivity rate differences (p=0.723) were observed between Bahrainis and non-Bahraini residents. The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-specific IgG amongst post partum women was 15.8% and 6.3% for IgM, while for women of child-bearing age IgG was higher at 22.3% and 11.6% for IgM. The IgG seropositivity in neonates (<1 month old) was 16.5%, decreasing to 9.3% in preschool children, while for IgM, it was 3.7% at birth increasing to 7.3% in the preschool group. The IgG seroprevalence increased within the first 15 years of life, and leveled thereafter, for IgM however, it was low at birth and increased within the first 12 months of life then leveled-off at the age of 20-40 to approximately 11-14%, with a further increase after 40 years to 17%. CONCLUSION: The seropositivity rates of T. gondii in the samples examined during the present study fall within the range of other Gulf Cooperative Council countries. True prevalence in the general population may actually be lower.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Drug prescribing indicators in primary health care centers in Bahrain.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate drug use indicators in primary health care centers in the Ministry of Health, Bahrain. METHODS: Four out of 20 primary health care centers in Bahrain were selected and prescriptions of one day (July 30, 2003), were collected, reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: The study showed that the average number of drugs per encounter was 2.6, while the percentage of prescriptions containing injections were 8.3%, and antibiotics were 26.2%. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 14.3%, and those from the National Drug List were 99.8%. CONCLUSION: Parameters, such as average number of drugs prescribed, are in line with many countries. However, injection prescribing was higher than European countries, but low in comparison with many countries in Asia and Africa. Antibiotic prescribing was close to European countries, and lower when compared to some Asian and African countries. We need an intervention program to promote the use of generic names, as it is quite low.

Bahrain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Schoolteachers' knowledge of common health problems in Bahrain.

Schoolteacher could be a useful source of health information for students but that they themselves would have to possess adequate and accurate knowledge of health issues. We assessed Bahraini schoolteachers' knowledge of some common health problems using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire which requested information on schools, teachers' demographic data, and knowledge about 5 common health problems in Bahrain: bronchial asthma, sickle-cell anaemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and the dangers of smoking. We analysed the data on 1140 respondents from a random selection of teachers in all schools in Bahrain. The schoolteachers scored only around 50% on average for knowledge about common health problems which indicates a need to educate schoolteachers about health in order to improve their knowledge and their capability to disseminate health knowledge and information to students.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide throughout the state of Bahrain.

A comprehensive field study of atmospheric NO2 was conducted throughout the state of Bahrain, using passive diffusion tube samplers. A total of 319 tubes were used, and all sites were chosen to include residential, heavy and low traffic roads, industrial, airport and commercial areas. The results of the survey revealed marked spatial variations in NO2 concentrations. The weekly mean NO2 values varied from 76 microg m(-3) in the north-eastern part of Bahrain island to 13 microg m(-3) in the south-east of Muharaq island. Generally, NO2 values decreased from the north to the south, where traffic volume and density also decreased. In addition, the results indicated that high traffic areas revealed higher NO2 levels compared with airport and industrial areas. The highest NO2 concentrations were measured in roads characterized by being narrow and confined, with many traffic lights and roundabouts, indicating the influence of road geometry on NO2 levels. The results provide valuable baseline information for future investigators, especially since the study was conducted at the start of the Gulf War, which was accompanied by substantial emissions of NO2 from jet fighters and burning of about 600 oil fields.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Group Personality Projective Test among university students in Bahrain.

Using confirmatory factor analytic techniques on data generated from 200 students enrolled at the University of Bahrain, we obtained some construct validity and reliability data for the Arabic Version of the 1961 Group Personality Projective Test by Cassel and Khan. In contrast to the 5-factor model proposed for the Group Personality Projective Test, a 6-factor solution appeared justified for the Arabic Version of this test, suggesting some variance between the cultural groups in the United States and in Bahrain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Antihypertensive drug prescription trends at the primary health care centres in Bahrain.

PURPOSE: To determine the antihypertensive drug prescribing pattern by primary care physicians in patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension; to identify whether such pattern of prescription is appropriate and in accordance with international guidelines for pharmacotherapy of hypertension; and to estimate the impact of such prescriptions on cost of treatment. METHODS: A prescription-based survey among patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension was conducted in seven out of a total of 18 health centres in Bahrain. The relevant data for our study was collected using cards, designed for chronically-ill patients. RESULTS: A total of 1019 male and 1395 female (62.9%) out of 3838 of the study population were on monotherapy, whereas 596 male and 828 female (37.1%) were on antihypertensive combination therapy. Among the monotherapy category, the various antihypertensive drugs used were as follows: beta-blockers (58.8%), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (14.2%), calcium channel blockers (11.1%), diuretics (8.1%) and alpha-methyldopa (7.0%). With respect to overall utilization pattern, beta-blockers were the most frequently prescribed (65.5%), diuretics ranked second (27.4%), followed by ACE inhibitors (20.6%), calcium channel blockers (19.9%) and alpha-methyldopa (8.5%). Within each class of antihypertensives used, the most frequently used individual agents were as follows: (a) among beta-blockers 97.7% used atenolol; (b) among the diuretics, indapamide (35.4%), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (32.7%), HCTZ in combination with triamterene (25.7%), and chlorthalidone (4.6%); (c) among the ACE inhibitors, captopril (44.9%), enalapril (29.7%), and lisinopril (19.0%); (d) among the calcium channel blockers, nifedipine (98.2%). Significant age- and gender-related differences in prescribing patterns were seen. Short-acting nifedipine monotherapy was inappropriately prescribed in a significant number of patients above the age of 50 years. ACE inhibitors accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total antihypertensive drug expenditure, although these drugs represent only one-fifth of overall antihypertensives used. There is a trend towards excessive use of expensive thiazide-like diuretics such as indapamide which seems to be unjustifiable practice, particularly in a study population free from diabetic hypertensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The general pattern of antihypertensive utilization appears to be in accordance with the guidelines of WHO and the Joint National Committee issued in the 1990s. The trends of prescribing of antihypertensives were in favour of conventional ones such as the beta blockers and diuretics, and the introduction of newer classes of antihypertensives had a generally minimal impact on the prescribing profile. Almost two-thirds of the patients were treated with monotherapy. A disproportionately large percentage of antihypertensive drug cost was due to overt use of ACE inhibitors, and indapamide, instead of thiazide diuretics. The use of short-acting calcium channel blockers especially in the elderly is unjustifiable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Pharmacotherapy and blood pressure control in elderly hypertensives in a primary care setting in Bahrain.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Antihypertensive treatment in the elderly has important beneficial effects in terms of reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine, in elderly hypertensives, the adherence of primary care physicians to World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) guidelines for the drug management of hypertension and extent of blood pressure (BP) control. METHODS: A multicentric therapeutic audit of medical records of elderly hypertensives was performed in nine primary care health centers in the Kingdom of Bahrain. RESULTS: In elderly hypertensives (> or =60 years), the WHO/ISH-1999 recommended BP targets of <140/<90 mmHg and BP<130/85 mmHg were achieved in 11.1% of elderly hypertensives and 4.1% of elderly diabetic hypertensives, respectively. Antihypertensive combination therapy was used in approximately half of the elderly. No significant difference in BP was found in elderly hypertensives treated either with monotherapy or combination therapy. As regards mono- and overall drug utilization, beta-blockers were the most frequently prescribed drugs in hypertensives, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in diabetic hypertensives. Diuretics and calcium channel blockers, the preferred antihypertensives for the elderly, were less often prescribed, particularly in patients with isolated systolic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one out of 9 elderly hypertensives and one out of 24 diabetic hypertensives achieved optimal BP control. Although preference for antihypertensives was markedly influenced by comorbidity with diabetes, tailoring of drug therapy was suboptimal and did not adhere to the recommended guidelines in elderly hypertensives. Efforts to improve the drug management of hypertension at primary care level, particularly in the elderly, are required.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1990

The epidemiology of tuberculosis in Bahrain.

Incidence and mortality from tuberculosis in Bahrain have been examined for the years 1965, 1971, 1980-1981 and 1983-1987. Both incidence and mortality rates have shown a large decline since 1965. Most of the decrease in incidence rates occurred in the period 1983-1987 when there was a sharp decline among non-Bahrainis by an average of 20.4% per annum, from 157.3 per 100,000 in 1983 to 63.1 per 100,000 in 1987. Rates for Bahrainis have decreased gradually since 1965 and during 1983-1987 declined from 15.8 per 100,000 to 11.9 per 100,000; an average annual decline of 6.8%. In 1983-1987, non-Bahrainis showed, on average, rates which were seven times higher than Bahrainis. In 1987, among Bahrainis the age distribution of cases shifted to older age groups in comparison to previous years, and in all the study years, there were more males with pulmonary tuberculosis than females. Rates for non-pulmonary tuberculosis showed only small fluctuations during the study period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Carboxyhemoglobin levels in blood donors in Bahrain.

A total of 107 venous blood samples were obtained from blood donors in Bahrain for carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) analysis. The donors were categorized according to their sex, smoking habits, occupation, place of work (indoor or outdoor), and residential area. The mean COHb levels were significantly higher in smokers (4.8%) than nonsmoking (1.5%). The mean COHb levels were higher in smoking, outdoor working donors (4.98%) and nonsmoking outdoor working donors (2.29%) than smoking indoor working donors (3.07%) and nonsmoking indoor working donors (1.04%). Other factors, such as sex and residential area did not influence COHb concentrations. The results indicate a possible influence of the levels of environmental carbon monoxide on the COHb in the blood of the Bahraini population.

Bahrain↗
PubMed1994

Levels of trihalomethanes in the blended water of Bahrain.

The distribution of trihalomethanes in the water of the two main power stations and the 10 blending stations in Bahrain has been studied. Total trihalomethanes in the drinking water averaged 2.95 micrograms/l. Average concentrations (microgram/l) of individual compounds were: CHBr3, 2.17 +/- 0.3; CHBr2Cl, 0.48 +/- 0.14; CHBrCl2, 0.30 +/- 0.13.

Bahrain↗
PubMed1995

Sequential emergence of multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Bahrain.

During the mid-1980s, nosocomial infections due to aminoglycoside-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia were prevalent in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Salamanya Medical Centre, Bahrain. In an attempt to control the spread of such organisms, the third-generation cephalosporins were introduced in early 1987. Subsequently there was a marked increase in the incidence of cephalosporin resistance among Klebsiella spp. isolated in the ICU. In 1990, over 60% of Klebsiella isolates were resistant to both cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. Cephalosporin resistance was due to production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases encoded on the same plasmid as aminoglycoside resistance. The incidence of cephalosporin resistance declined during 1991-1992, which was coincident with severe restrictions on the use of third-generation cephalosporins and the preferential use of ciprofloxacin and imipenem for nosocomial klebsiella infections. Sequential overuse of aminoglycosides and cephalosporins for nosocomial klebsiella infection may select for organisms resistant to both classes of antibiotics.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed2004

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus prevalence among dialysis patients in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia: a survey by serologic and molecular methods.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were assessed among 81 Bahraini and 34 Saudi hemodialysis patients and 7714 Bahraini and 2330 Saudi blood donors. Higher prevalence of HCV (9.24% vs 0.30%), hepatitis B surface antigen (5.88% vs 0.62%) were seen in patients versus control patients, and in Saudi patients compared with Bahraini patients. HCV genotypes were HCV 1a/1b plus HCV 4 among Bahraini patients and HCV 2/2a plus HCV 4 among Saudi patients. This is the first report on viral hepatitis in Bahrain and the first to compare HBV/HCV among dialysis patients in the Eastern Arabian Peninsula.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Bacterial community and some physico-chemical characteristics in a subtropical mangrove environment in Bahrain.

A study of bacterial communities and some physico-chemical parameters of a subtropical mangrove habitat in the Arabian Gulf (Bahrain) was carried out in 1993-1994. Six stations at different parts of the tidal channel were selected for sampling. The mangrove habitat was found to harbor diverse bacterial communities, included among them anoxygenic phototrophs (AP), oxygenic phototrophs (OP), organotrophs (OT), total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC) and haloalkaliphiles (HA). Spatial and temporal variations in bacterial communities and environmental parameters were found. Each of the OT, AP, TC, and FC were dominant in the innermost stations (S1&S2) and gradually decreased seaward. The HA community on the other hand, was dominant at the seaward stations (S5&S6) and was most likely to have originated from the sea through the tidal flows. Both AP and OT were considered as part of the mangrove native flora, whereas TC and FC were alien and believed to have been introduced through partially treated sewage released at the upstream of the tidal channel. Closely monitoring of the mangrove water revealed succession pattern in bacterial communities. The AP community was predominant from November 1993 to March 1994, succeeded by dominance of OP from June 1994 to October 1994. Both bacterial blooms gave water a pinkish, purple, or green color, respectively. Although OT prevailed during Transitional period between AP and OP eutrophication, it remained comparatively constant (not less than 2 x 10(5)cfu/ml) through other periods. Frequent eutrophication phenomena of OP, which took place in summer and autumn, coincided with increases in water temperature, chlorophyll a, and nutrients (NO(3)(-) and PO(4)(-)). On the other hand, OT and AP were negatively correlated with temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a, but no specific pattern was observed in relation to NO(3)(-) and PO(4)(-). In comparison with seawater, nutrients such as NO(3)(-) and PO(4)(-) were consistently higher in the mangrove habitat. Partially treated sewage and farm drainage canals are proposed to form additional sources of nutrients. Although, the mangrove habitat has been demonstrated to possess self-cleaning properties, data obtained suggest that anthropogenic pollution has a deleterious effect.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1982

Survey of tuberculous infection in schoolchildren in Bahrain.

A tuberculin survey was carried out on young schoolchildren in Bahrain and the results are compared with those of a previous survey. In 1969, with the co-operation of the World Health Organisation, a sample tuberculin survey was carried out on all age groups; it was found that 55 of the 897 children 6-7 years of age showed positive reactions (6.1%). In 1981, 12 years later, this same age group was surveyed again. A total of 6151 children was tested, of whom 86 were positive reactors (1.4%). This decline in the rate of tuberculous infection, by 12% a year, is highly significant (P much less than 0.001). The survey also shows a significantly higher rate of tuberculin positive reactors amongst immigrant children than amongst native Bahrainis.

Bahrain↗
PubMed2000

Profile of body composition of school children (6-18y) in Bahrain.

OBJECTIVE: To study the body composition of Bahraini school children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional national school survey. SUBJECTS: School children aged 6-18y. The sample comprised 818 boys and 775 girls. MEASUREMENTS: Weight, height, arm circumference and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Sum of skinfold thickness, body mass index (BMI), mid arm circumference, percentage body fat, fat weight and lean body weight were then calculated to determine body composition. RESULTS: A significant difference in the sum of skinfold thickness was observed between boys and girls. The girls have almost 50% extra skinfold thickness than boys at all ages. Similar trends were found in BMI, except at ages 9 and 18y. The percentage of body fat was higher in girls than boys. The mean BMI for Bahraini girls aged 13y and above exceeds that of their American counterparts, indicating a trend towards fat accumulation in the Bahraini girls. CONCLUSION: The data obtained are useful for monitoring obesity in school children in Bahrain as well as being usable as reference data for similar countries in the region. The high proportion of body fat among Bahraini school children, especially girls, urges an intervention program to prevent and control obesity in this age group.

Adipose Tissue↗