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Physical inactivity is one of the most important public health problems in the 21st century. It plays an active role in the prevention of both non-communicable diseases and premature death. A community-based survey was conducted to assess the level of physical activity among household population and to identify associated demographic factors of physical inactivity. A sample of 5000 households was selected by a multi-stage stratified cluster random sample. A standardized world health organization (WHO) structured questionnaire global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) was used in data collection. About 25.2% of the study population practiced a physical activity less than WHO recommended level for their ages. The study has shown statistically-significant insufficient physical activity level among females (31.3%), adolescent (42.6%), the old (57.1%), housewives (38.8%), and the low-income (32.5%), with a P-value of

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of hypocalcemia in outpatient clinic neonates and its relation to vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the University Teaching Hospital from May to October 2016. Data were collected from 100 neonates by interviewing mothers using a structured questionnaire; which included socio-demographic information, maternal and neonatal history; in addition to investigations of serum calcium total and ionized and serum vitamin D level. Results: The prevalence of hypocalcemia was 76%, late hypocalcemia represent 52% of hypocalcemic neonates. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 38%. Hypocalcemia was found more prevalent among neonates with no history of vitamin D supplementation (98.7%), no history of maternal calcium supplementation (57.9%), while they had a history of neonatal jaundice on phototherapy (46.1%) which increased to 53.8% with late hypocalcemia. Conclusion: Neonatal hypocalcemia is widely prevalent in Fayoum governorate with significant association with a history of neonatal jaundice on phototherapy, not receiving maternal calcium or neonatal vitamin D supplementation. Saudi Med J 2018; Vol. 39 (3): 247-253 doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.3.21679 How to cite this article: Elsary AY, Elgameel AA, Mohammed WS, Zaki OM, Taha SA. Neonatal hypocalcemia and its relation to vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Saudi Med J . 2018 Mar;39(3):247-253. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.3.21679.

Objective The current study aims to assess the association between different characteristics of neonatal jaundice and common types of allergic diseases in childhood (as bronchial asthma, acute urticaria, and allergic rhinitis). Study Design A case-control study is conducted on 300 allergic children and 300 healthy children as a control group at Fayoum University Hospital. The study was conducted over a span of 2 years, from May 2016 to May 2018. Bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and acute urticaria diagnoses were based on physician clinical examination using specific guidelines for each. For the data regarding children's demographic and maternal characteristics, a structured questionnaire was used. Regarding neonatal jaundice, data were collected from the patients' hospital records. Results Children with neonatal jaundice are more likely to develop allergy with 57% higher than neonates without jaundice. Early onset jaundice and treatment by phototherapy have statistically significant association with the development of allergic diseases. Conclusion Different aspects of neonatal jaundice are associated with the development of common allergic diseases in children.

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that had physical, social, psychological, and sexual complications. The study aimed to assess effect of FGM on couple sexual function.Methods: case control nested from cross-sectional study in Fayoum governorate; it was conducted during a period of five months (March 2016 to July 2016).Results: The prevalence of FGM was 432(83.4%). The risk of exposure to mutilation was about four folds higher among women inhabitant rural areas, and about nine folds higher among low educated women, and around six folds higher if parents were low educated. Around one-third of women in the study 157 (30.3%) suffered psychological problems and 142 (27.4%) of them suffered marital and social problems related to FGM practice. Mutilated women had five folds decrease in desire: four folds decrease in sexual satisfaction and five folds increase in sexual dysfunction on contrary 57% to 59% decrease in arousal and orgasm. As regards to husband sexual satisfaction, it decreases by around three folds if their wives were mutilated. There is statistically a significant increase in couple sexual dysfunction among complicated mutilation.Conclusions: FGM is still practiced in Egypt and it resulted in many physical, psychological, and social complications; also it had a negative impact on the couple's sexual life.

Background: Culture is defined as a shared system of beliefs, values and behavioral expectations that provide social structure for daily living. Not all customs and beliefs are harmful. Some of them have positive values while others may be of no role or positively harmful for neonate’s health in various forms like physical, psychological, social development. The objective of the study was to explore the traditional beliefs and practices in new born care.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at post-natal ward of BLDEU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura from June 2015 to July 2015. A total of 200 mothers were interviewed and data was collected after obtaining the consent.Results: In the present study, majority of the mothers were in age group between 19-22 years (45%). 16% of the mothers discarded the colostrum believing it is harmful. Application of kajal to the newborn’s face and eyes will be practiced among 88%. 75% of the mothers practiced pouring oil into the ears.Conclusions: Findings of our study highlights some of the good practices in the newborn care which can be motivated, at the same time the harmful practices can be avoided by educating and counselling the mother and her family members.

Background: Malnutrition is involved in half of the deaths of under-five children as in many developing countries. In Egypt, malnutrition remains an important issue as 5.5% of under-five children are underweight, 8.4% are wasted and 21.4% are stunted. The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among sick under five children seeking medical advice at Tamiya District health care facilities in Fayoum.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 400 under five children at Tamiya district in Fayoum. It was carried out over a period of 5 months from June to October 2014. All patients were subjected to the following: History taking, anthropometric measurements including weight and length/height.Results: Our study shows that 23.2%, 18.5% and 19.3% of children were underweight, stunted and wasted, respectively. Stunting was more common in females than males. Also, our results reveal that risk factors of malnutrition were 70.6% parasitic infestation and 15.7% for gastroenteritis with statistically significant high prevalence of positive parasitic, helminthic infestation, and gastroenteritis with p-value