Adnan Ibrahim Al-Hindi

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition and some risk factors among hospitalized children attending Al-Nasser paediatric hospital. A cross-sectional study among hospitalized children attending Al-Nasser paediatrics hospital. The study included 522 children during the period May 2002 to May 2003. Data collection was through blood specimens, anthropometric indices and the questionnaire. The present study included 522 children attending AL-Nasser Paediatric Hospital with 334 males (64.0%) and 188 females (36.0%). Those children are distributed into three regions; the city 316 (60.5%), the camp 181 (34.7%) and village 25 (4.8%). The present study showed that 326 (62.5%) were anaemic, while 220/522 (42.1%) were underweight, stunting were 172/522 (32.9%) and wasting 140/522 (26.8%). The present study indicated that underweight and wasting were lower among males (38.6%), (20.0%) compared to females (48.4%), (38.8%) with a significance level (p=0.02, p=0.001). Palestinian children at high risk of anaemia and malnutrition. These two conditions should be considered by health authorities and urgent need for immediate intervention should be taken to minimize the consequences. Keywords: Anemia, Malnutrition, Prevalence, Gaza, Children

The aim our study is to study the occurrence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant and non-pregnant in Gaza strip. In cross-sectional study 164 sample was collected from pregnant and non pregnant woman attending Al-shifa hospital. Quantitative investigation of each blood sample for the levels of the specific IgG and IgM of T.gondii was done for collected sample. The overall prevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was found 33.2% and Toxoplasma. IgM was found to be 21%. The highest rate of IgG (47.4%) was in age group from 35-45 years old and IgM was (40%) in age group 25 to 35 years old. The women residing in the East Gaza city had IgG (42.2%) but in IgM was(32.1%) in the women residing in the North and Midzone. The highest rate of IgG (57.1%) and IgM (42.9%) were noticed among the employed women. In conclusion the result of this study shows a significant high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis infection in pregnant women, and an important association with different socioeconomic factors. It is recommended that Toxoplasma gondii should applied as a routine test in Gaza and further studies to determine the reality of the definitive host infection (cats) in Gaza.