Background: Many students carry school backpacks that exceed 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, which puts them at risk for back pain and related disorders. Improper backpack use can also lead to poor posture. Aim of the study was to assess parental knowledge about standard school backpacks, correct carrying of backpack, and assess their awareness of musculoskeletal disorders related to use of school backpack. Subjects & Methods: A randomized cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out using a multistage random sampling at Assiut city. The subjects of the study were 318 parents and their children. The tool of data collection was: A self structured questionnaire developed by the researchers and filled by parents contained two parts: Part I. Personal data. Part II: Knowledge of parents about school backpack and its effect on the child's health. Results: Most parents were unaware of standard school backpack, correct body mechanics of carrying school backpack. Also, Most of them (92.5%) reported that their children complain of heavy school bag. Meanwhile, only 7.5% carry school backpack with ideal weight. More than half of the studied parents (58.5%) reported that their children spent ≥ 30 minutes carrying the school backpack, & two-thirds of them (66%) walk to school. Also, more than two-thirds of them put additional contents in their school backpack & complain of low back pain, shoulder or arm pain (68.9% & 66.7%) respectively. In addition, more than two-thirds of the studied parents didn't check their children' school backpack. Conclusion: Most parents were unaware of the standard school backpack, correct method for carrying the school backpack or musculoskeletal disorders related to the use of heavy school backpack. Recommendation: Design and implement educational program about characteristics of healthy school backpack for parents, teachers, and school children, Provision of school lockers to save the excess books.

Background: Many students carry school backpacks that exceed 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, which puts them at risk for back pain and related disorders. Improper backpack use can also lead to poor posture. Aim of the study was to assess parental knowledge about standard school backpacks, correct carrying of backpack, and assess their awareness of musculoskeletal disorders related to use of school backpack. Subjects & Methods: A randomized cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out using a multistage random sampling at Assiut city. The subjects of the study were 318 parents and their children. The tool of data collection was: A self structured questionnaire developed by the researchers and filled by parents contained two parts: Part I. Personal data. Part II: Knowledge of parents about school backpack and its effect on the child's health. Results: Most parents were unaware of standard school backpack, correct body mechanics of carrying school backpack. Also, Most of them (92.5%) reported that their children complain of heavy school bag. Meanwhile, only 7.5% carry school backpack with ideal weight. More than half of the studied parents (58.5%) reported that their children spent ≥ 30 minutes carrying the school backpack, & two-thirds of them (66%) walk to school. Also, more than two-thirds of them put additional contents in their school backpack & complain of low back pain, shoulder or arm pain (68.9% & 66.7%) respectively. In addition, more than two-thirds of the studied parents didn't check their children' school backpack. Conclusion: Most parents were unaware of the standard school backpack, correct method for carrying the school backpack or musculoskeletal disorders related to the use of heavy school backpack. Recommendation: Design and implement educational program about characteristics of healthy school backpack for parents, teachers, and school children, Provision of school lockers to save the excess books.

Background: Food safety continues to be a concern of consumers and a focal point of the food industry and regulatory agencies. For over a century, developments in food production and new control philosophies have contributed to food safety systems in most developed countries to be efficient in the prevention of food borne diseases. The elderly are at particular risk of food borne illnesses because of their weaken immune systems, decrease in stomach acidity and intestinal peristalsis. Aim of the study: to assess the practices of the elderly people and their caregivers about food safety. Setting: The present study was carried out at Assiut city (urban) and Assiut district (rural) in Assiut governorate. Study design: descriptive cross sectional research design. The subjects were 10% of the total number of the elderly people from every area was selected randomly who aged 60 years and above and their caregivers involved in the study. The total number of the studied elderly was 720 (340 from urban and 380 from rural areas) and their caregivers (135 subjects). Results: nearly the total subject from the urban elderly (97.1%) and the majority of rural elderly (86.3%) did not know the temperature of the refrigerator, more than two fifths (44.7%) of the urban and more than one fifth (20.3%) of the rural elderly defrosting product in tape water. Conclusion: the elderly and their caregivers (urban and rural) were followed incorrect defrosting practices, incorrect hygiene of the kitchen counter, and lack of knowledge regarding refrigeration temperature. Recommendations: the information about food safety should be disseminated through mass media, television, newspapers and magazines at regular periods, designing food safety educational program that should be directed to the public with special emphasis on the high-risk groups as the elderly through mass media

Background: Food safety continues to be a concern of consumers and a focal point of the food industry and regulatory agencies. For over a century, developments in food production and new control philosophies have contributed to food safety systems in most developed countries to be efficient in the prevention of food borne diseases. The elderly are at particular risk of food borne illnesses because of their weaken immune systems, decrease in stomach acidity and intestinal peristalsis. Aim of the study: to assess the practices of the elderly people and their caregivers about food safety. Setting: The present study was carried out at Assiut city (urban) and Assiut district (rural) in Assiut governorate. Study design: descriptive cross sectional research design. The subjects were 10% of the total number of the elderly people from every area was selected randomly who aged 60 years and above and their caregivers involved in the study. The total number of the studied elderly was 720 (340 from urban and 380 from rural areas) and their caregivers (135 subjects). Results: nearly the total subject from the urban elderly (97.1%) and the majority of rural elderly (86.3%) did not know the temperature of the refrigerator, more than two fifths (44.7%) of the urban and more than one fifth (20.3%) of the rural elderly defrosting product in tape water. Conclusion: the elderly and their caregivers (urban and rural) were followed incorrect defrosting practices, incorrect hygiene of the kitchen counter, and lack of knowledge regarding refrigeration temperature. Recommendations: the information about food safety should be disseminated through mass media, television, newspapers and magazines at regular periods, designing food safety educational program that should be directed to the public with special emphasis on the high-risk groups as the elderly through mass media

Background: Food safety continues to be a concern of consumers and a focal point of the food industry and regulatory agencies. For over a century, developments in food production and new control philosophies have contributed to food safety systems in most developed countries to be efficient in the prevention of food borne diseases. The elderly are at particular risk of food borne illnesses because of their weaken immune systems, decrease in stomach acidity and intestinal peristalsis. Aim of the study: to assess the practices of the elderly people and their caregivers about food safety. Setting: The present study was carried out at Assiut city (urban) and Assiut district (rural) in Assiut governorate. Study design: descriptive cross sectional research design. The subjects were 10% of the total number of the elderly people from every area was selected randomly who aged 60 years and above and their caregivers involved in the study. The total number of the studied elderly was 720 (340 from urban and 380 from rural areas) and their caregivers (135 subjects). Results: nearly the total subject from the urban elderly (97.1%) and the majority of rural elderly (86.3%) did not know the temperature of the refrigerator, more than two fifths (44.7%) of the urban and more than one fifth (20.3%) of the rural elderly defrosting product in tape water. Conclusion: the elderly and their caregivers (urban and rural) were followed incorrect defrosting practices, incorrect hygiene of the kitchen counter, and lack of knowledge regarding refrigeration temperature. Recommendations: the information about food safety should be disseminated through mass media, television, newspapers and magazines at regular periods, designing food safety educational program that should be directed to the public with special emphasis on the high-risk groups as the elderly through mass media

Background: Nursing is an important discipline and is considered as an essential community provider of health information and attitude formation. The knowledge and attitude of nurses is an important factor in shaping and changing community, since they set the example for their clients. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify nursing students' knowledge regarding oral health, to identify their habits regarding oral health, and examine their oral health-related attitudes and behavior. Subject and Methods: The present study used a descriptive study design. The setting was the University Secondary Nursing School at Assiut city. The subjects of the study were 246 nursing students at the pre-final and final year. Two tools were used in this study; the first tool is developed by the investigator to assess students' knowledge and habits regarding oral health. The second tool is the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) to assess the oral heath attitude/behavior of the students. Results: More than three-quarters of the students (76.4%) had satisfactory knowledge regarding oral health, more than half of students (56.9%) had negative attitudes towards oral health. There is no statistical significance relation between the level of students' knowledge and their attitude, habits, and personal characteristics regarding oral health except for age and grade. Conclusion: The study showed that although the students had satisfactory basic knowledge about oral health, their attitude and practices toward oral health was relatively poor. Recommendations: A new curriculum incorporating basic topics on oral hygiene should be included for nursing students. Conduct continuing education programs for the newly graduated nurses to improve their knowledge, attitude and awareness about oral health.

Al-Azahar Assiut Medical Journal September 2010, Vol.8 N.(3) Impact of child labor on psychosocial development of under fourteen years in Assiut city, Egypt. Eman S. Masoud,1 Salwa A. Marzouk2 and Safaa R. Mahmoud3 1Pediatric Nursing department, faculty of Nursing, Minia University and 2Pediatric Nursing department,3 Community health, faculty of Nursing, Assiut University. Abstract: Child labor is a pervasive problem in Egypt. For the last two decades there has been growing concern for child labor across the globe and several efforts are being made by the governments and civil society organizations to eliminate child labor. It has a great impact on child health whether psychosocially or physically. Objectives: this study aimed to assess the impact of child labor on the psychosocial development of under fourteen years in Assiut. Design: A descriptive research design was used in this study. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 248 children divided equally into two groups (working children and school children). Data are collected using an interview questionnaire sheet. Results: the present results revealed that children work because the family is in need of financial support or children fail in school. Also, the results revealed that working children had lower score of anger control and had elevated scores regarding excessive suffering and weak ego strength. Conclusion: Even work has negative effect on their Psychosocial condition, but it also has positive effect as the children become independent. From the study results the researcher recommended that the ministry of manpower must have strict enforcement and real application of existing law against all forms of child labor.

Background and objective: A febrile (fever) convulsion is a fit or seizure that occurs in children with fever. The key responsibilities of the nurse are to protect the child from injury during seizure and assist in the treatment of the underlying cause. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of educational program on nurses’ knowledge and performance. Methods: Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Subjects and methods: 44 nurses who working at Assiut Children Hospital. Tools: A structured interview sheet and observational check list. Results: Statistically significant difference between nurses’ knowledge and practices after post-test and follow-up. Conclusions: The nurses’ knowledge regarding care of child with febrile seizure were not enough with some unsafe practices. The study recommended On Job Training (OJT) programs are suggested in order to refresh and update nurses’ knowledge.

Background and objective: A febrile (fever) convulsion is a fit or seizure that occurs in children with fever. The key responsibilities of the nurse are to protect the child from injury during seizure and assist in the treatment of the underlying cause. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of educational program on nurses’ knowledge and performance. Methods: Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Subjects and methods: 44 nurses who working at Assiut Children Hospital. Tools: A structured interview sheet and observational check list. Results: Statistically significant difference between nurses’ knowledge and practices after post-test and follow-up. Conclusions: The nurses’ knowledge regarding care of child with febrile seizure were not enough with some unsafe practices. The study recommended On Job Training (OJT) programs are suggested in order to refresh and update nurses’ knowledge.

The lack of professional identity in nursing is evidence by the large number of nurses who leave the field and by those who practice at sub-professional levels. It follows that where positive professional identities are weak or absent, both the profession and professional suffer. The aim of this study was to assess the professional identity among nurses at main Assiut University Hospital. The study was conducted at Main Assiut University Hospital. This study was carried out in the following departments: Medical departments, surgical departments, I.C.U s. Subject of study sample included all the available head and staff nurses (102) currently assigned to work in the selected units at main Assiut University Hospital. The distribution of these personnel was as follows: 26 head nurses and 76 staff nurses. Tool of the study: The questionnaire sheet is consisted of two parts: a) the first part related to socio-demographic characteristics of the study sample. It consisted of 5 questions related to (job position, department, years of experience, gender, and in-services training programs). b) The second part of the tool consisted of 56 questions developed by Ali, A (2004) to develop a tool for assessing nurses' professional identity. It consisted of 56 items; 27 items covered professional image; 25 items covered assertiveness and 4 items covered self-responsibility. The result revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between professional identity and socio-demographic characteristics of the study sample. The study concluded that the majority of study sample (head and staff nurses) was having low professional identity. On the light of the present findings the authors recommended that: leaders and managers must facilitate formal and informal communication through committees and participation in decision making, also, Evaluate nurses' practice in relation to practice standards, Leaders and managers must give a sense of support to nursing staff such as dealing with nurses equally as adult professional, there should be job description for nurses and their role set, and the Egyptian Nursing Syndicate should assess nursing problems by doing periodic surveys and make psychological support to the nurses by making social services benefit for them and their families (social clubs, social insurance, health insurance). Moreover, It should provide computer science and language courses for nurses. Also, it must cooperate with Egyptian faculties and institutes of nursing to develop own web site to declare the recent nursing researches.