Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0932
ISSN: 2161-0932
Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim
Albaha University, Saudi Arabia
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Gynecol Obstet
Background: Inadequate environmental sanitation has been recognized as a public health hazard worldwide. Nearly one quarter of all deaths and of the total disease burden and slightly more than one-third for children can be attributed to the changes and degradation of the environment. This study examined the environmental conditions of the internally displaced person (IDP) communities in Khartoum State, Sudan and its effect on children health. Methods: A community-based descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used for a population of 726,989 inhabitants of the IDP communities in Khartoum State, Sudan. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used in selecting 662 households in these communities and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions. Results: Protected dug wells and tap water were the major sources of water supply in the study area, usually transferred to the house by cart and almost all was not treated. The major source of toilet facilities was traditional pit latrine and more than onefifth of the populations share common latrines. More than one-third of the families had animals inside their housing. Almost half of the families were disposing their rubbish in collection areas far from housing followed by burning of rubbish, which had been used by more than one-third of them. More than one-fifth of the households� preschool children (21.3%) had diarrhea. A result of multiple logistic regressions showed that, time of hand washing (when to wash hand) was independently predictive for diarrhea among the households� preschool children (B=0.005, Wald test=6.758 and p=0.009). Conclusions: It can therefore, be concluded that the environmental conditions including access to improved sources of water and hygienic latrines in these communities were accepted, although there were still some negative environmental practices, which can affect the safety of water and promote diseases spread. Bad hygienic practices were prevalent and led to high rates of diarrhea among the households� children. Therefore, to improve the environmental conditions in these communities, authorities should establish and enforce a more healthy environmental conditions approach and health promotion activities to improve the hygienic practice.
Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim has graduated from Khartoum University Faculty of medicine in 2001. He awarded Master of Public health from the Malaya University in 2007. He completed his MD in Community and Family Medicine from Sudan Medical Specialization Board in 2009. He also awarded a Master of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases from the University of Medical Science and Technology in Sudan in 2013. He is an Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine at Al-Baha University Faculty of Medicine, Saudi Arabia. He was working in different positions in Primary Health Care General Directorate, Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Sudan, from 2003-2009. Then he worked as an Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine in faculty of medicine of different Sudanese universities, which include Khartoum University, Al-Razi University and Shendi University. He published 10 papers in reputable journals. He participated in 4 international conferences and symposiums.
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