Background and significance: Safe motherhood starts before conception with proper nutrition and healthy life style. Lack of or low quality reproductive health services are the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Objectives: to describe the reproductive health pattern in rural Assiut regarding age at marriage, consanguinity, number of children, use of antenatal, natal and post natal and Family planning care and sources of health services and to determine the underlying socio¬-demographic factors. Methodology: A household survey was carried out in October through November 2009 in 3 districts in Assiut governorate namely; Abnoub, Sahel Seleem and Sdefa districts (3 villages in each district) to estimate patterns of reproductive health among females in reproductive age (15-¬ 49 years) The present study used cluster sampling and structured interview using questionnaire for data collection. Results: A total of 2331 females in reproductive age (15- ¬49) were interviewed, of them 1 640 (70.4%) were currently married. The average age at marriage was 1 9.4 years. Out of 1 505 married women, about 54% have first or second degree consanguinity and 9% were pregnant at the time of the survey. The mean number of pregnancies was 4.8. The majority (88%) of women received antenatal care during their last pregnancy and about two thirds of them (64.4%) received it from rural health unit. More than 50% of deliveries were at home and about one half (46%) received post natal visits. At the time of the survey, contraceptive use among interviewed women was about 45%. The commonly used methods were IUDs, followed by pills then injectables (20.4%, 1 2.6%, and 9.6% respectively). The vast majority of women (94%) were satisfied with various services provided. The main causes of dissatisfaction were deficient medications and long waiting time. Conclusion: Consanguineous marriage, relatively young age at marriage, low contraceptive use and high fertility remain a problem in rural Assiut and indicates the need for application of more rigorous counseling programs.

Background: Egypt is suffering from population problem mainly due to high fertility and low birth control. During the last 25 years, Egypt has made an impressive progress towards its population policy goals. From 1 980 – 2005, Egypt had more than doubled its contraceptive use (from 24% to 59%). But despite this progress, there are differences in contraceptive use among different geographic areas of Egypt. Fertility rates are highest in Upper Egypt (3.7 births) and lowest in the Urban Governorates 1 . On the other hand, contraception use rates were 60% or higher in all of the Urban Governorates and in the some Governorates in Lower Egypt. Nationally, Assiut and Sohag Governorates recorded the lowest levels of contraceptive use, 37.9% and 32.7% respectively. Previous researches on women and family planning have focused on how various aspects of women's lives predict their use of family planning. Objectives: In this piece of work, we looked at neglected aspect –though important¬ that might reverses the equation when you find out other factors or determinants that would influence family planning use by focusing on husband’s role in family planning decision making. Main question: What are the determinants or predictors that may affect family planning decision in Egypt? Methodology: Secondary analytical study based on Egypt Demographic Health Survey 2008 data set of currently married women aged 1 5¬49 years (N=1 5396). Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 1 6). Frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were computed. The suitable tests of significance were chosen as Chi square, t¬test, ANOVA, logistic regression analysis…etc . The 5% was chosen as a level of significance Results: The total numbers of currently married women aged 1 5 – 49 was 1 5396. The mean age of respondents at the time of interview was 33.96 years while that for their partners was 41 .04 years which ranged from 1 5 ¬95 years. The average number of children ever borne was 3.1 8 with an average number of living children 3.0 and average number of sons at the home of 1 .47. Respondent’s education level actively affected modern family planning methods use as those with higher education levels used modern family planning methods more frequent (63.4%) whereas those with lower levels of education were more likely to use no contraceptive methods at all (44.7%) and this difference was statistically significant(P =0.000). About two thirds of those didn’t use family planning methods at the time of interview were residing rural areas. A similar percentage of those residing urban areas used modern contraceptive methods and this difference was statistically significant (P =0.000). We found significant inverse relationship between wealth quintiles and using no family planning methods and vice versa with modern contraceptive use (P =0.000). Analyzing family planning use by age groups we found a statistical significant difference between different age groups regarding modern family planning as it variably peaks at age groups 25¬44 years(P =0.000). It was found that contact with health team (visiting the health facility or being visited by health worker) had statistically positive effect on using modern family planning methods (P =0.000 & P=0.004 respectively).There was a significant strong positive association between not working and non¬using family planning methods as the majority (84.2%) of non users were not working(P =0.01 2). The mean number of sons at home significantly affected husband’s desire for more children where the higher the mean number of sons at home the less husband desire for more children (P =0.004). Partner’s educational level played a significant role in family planning use where 47.6% of non educated partners’ wives did not use family planning methods compared to about two thirds (63.7%) of highly educated partners’ wives used family planning methods (P =0.000).Participation in household decisions was positively and significantly associated with use of modern family planning methods in contrast to those who didn’t participate were more likely not to use modern family planning (63.5% &78.7% respectively) (P =0.000). Several trials of logistic regression analysis were done, the significant predictors for modern family planning use were her sharing in family planning decision, number of living children and respondent’s current age (P= 0.05). The overall prediction of the model was 8.4 % with an overall percentage of 95.3%. Conclusion: Respondent’s sharing in family planning decision was the strongest predictor followed by number of living children, then respondent current age.

Background: Egypt is suffering from population problem mainly due to high fertility and low birth control. During the last 25 years, Egypt has made an impressive progress towards its population policy goals. From 1 980 – 2005, Egypt had more than doubled its contraceptive use (from 24% to 59%). But despite this progress, there are differences in contraceptive use among different geographic areas of Egypt. Fertility rates are highest in Upper Egypt (3.7 births) and lowest in the Urban Governorates 1 . On the other hand, contraception use rates were 60% or higher in all of the Urban Governorates and in the some Governorates in Lower Egypt. Nationally, Assiut and Sohag Governorates recorded the lowest levels of contraceptive use, 37.9% and 32.7% respectively. Previous researches on women and family planning have focused on how various aspects of women's lives predict their use of family planning. Objectives: In this piece of work, we looked at neglected aspect –though important¬ that might reverses the equation when you find out other factors or determinants that would influence family planning use by focusing on husband’s role in family planning decision making. Main question: What are the determinants or predictors that may affect family planning decision in Egypt? Methodology: Secondary analytical study based on Egypt Demographic Health Survey 2008 data set of currently married women aged 1 5¬49 years (N=1 5396). Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 1 6). Frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were computed. The suitable tests of significance were chosen as Chi square, t¬test, ANOVA, logistic regression analysis…etc . The 5% was chosen as a level of significance Results: The total numbers of currently married women aged 1 5 – 49 was 1 5396. The mean age of respondents at the time of interview was 33.96 years while that for their partners was 41 .04 years which ranged from 1 5 ¬95 years. The average number of children ever borne was 3.1 8 with an average number of living children 3.0 and average number of sons at the home of 1 .47. Respondent’s education level actively affected modern family planning methods use as those with higher education levels used modern family planning methods more frequent (63.4%) whereas those with lower levels of education were more likely to use no contraceptive methods at all (44.7%) and this difference was statistically significant(P =0.000). About two thirds of those didn’t use family planning methods at the time of interview were residing rural areas. A similar percentage of those residing urban areas used modern contraceptive methods and this difference was statistically significant (P =0.000). We found significant inverse relationship between wealth quintiles and using no family planning methods and vice versa with modern contraceptive use (P =0.000). Analyzing family planning use by age groups we found a statistical significant difference between different age groups regarding modern family planning as it variably peaks at age groups 25¬44 years(P =0.000). It was found that contact with health team (visiting the health facility or being visited by health worker) had statistically positive effect on using modern family planning methods (P =0.000 & P=0.004 respectively).There was a significant strong positive association between not working and non¬using family planning methods as the majority (84.2%) of non users were not working(P =0.01 2). The mean number of sons at home significantly affected husband’s desire for more children where the higher the mean number of sons at home the less husband desire for more children (P =0.004). Partner’s educational level played a significant role in family planning use where 47.6% of non educated partners’ wives did not use family planning methods compared to about two thirds (63.7%) of highly educated partners’ wives used family planning methods (P =0.000).Participation in household decisions was positively and significantly associated with use of modern family planning methods in contrast to those who didn’t participate were more likely not to use modern family planning (63.5% &78.7% respectively) (P =0.000). Several trials of logistic regression analysis were done, the significant predictors for modern family planning use were her sharing in family planning decision, number of living children and respondent’s current age (P= 0.05). The overall prediction of the model was 8.4 % with an overall percentage of 95.3%. Conclusion: Respondent’s sharing in family planning decision was the strongest predictor followed by number of living children, then respondent current age.

Background: The laboratory diagnosis of anemia through any of several techniques is not widely available and its cost is often unaffordable in poor areas of the world. Objectives: Thus we performed this study to assess the accuracy of clinical pallor in the diagnosis of anemia. The signs assessed in our study are palmer and mucous membrane of lip pallor Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study for validation of the use of palmer and lip mucous membrane pallor for diagnosis of anemia Results: 170 student were examined for the presence or absence o f pallor by the two pediatrician authors then they were subjected to determination of hemoglobin percent as a test for detection of anemia There is a nearly similar high sensitivity for palmer, mucous membrane of lip pallor, and both in diagnosis of anemia. Specificity is low for different types of pallor in diagnosis of anemia with palmer pallor having the lowest one Conclusion: Lip mucous membrane and palmer pallor are not accurate clinical signs for diagnosing anemia. But they are good screening tests for it. The diagnosis of anemia in pale patients should be confirmed by laboratory tests

Background: The laboratory diagnosis of anemia through any of several techniques is not widely available and its cost is often unaffordable in poor areas of the world. Objectives: Thus we performed this study to assess the accuracy of clinical pallor in the diagnosis of anemia. The signs assessed in our study are palmer and mucous membrane of lip pallor Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study for validation of the use of palmer and lip mucous membrane pallor for diagnosis of anemia Results: 170 student were examined for the presence or absence o f pallor by the two pediatrician authors then they were subjected to determination of hemoglobin percent as a test for detection of anemia There is a nearly similar high sensitivity for palmer, mucous membrane of lip pallor, and both in diagnosis of anemia. Specificity is low for different types of pallor in diagnosis of anemia with palmer pallor having the lowest one Conclusion: Lip mucous membrane and palmer pallor are not accurate clinical signs for diagnosing anemia. But they are good screening tests for it. The diagnosis of anemia in pale patients should be confirmed by laboratory tests