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Abstract
North Sinai is an arid governorate at the North East of Egypt.
Inhabitants of Sinai have unique pattern of life which is far different from that of other Egyptian urban or even rural communities. Dry weather, low income, limited dietary resources, lack of water supply, illiteracy and inadequate health services have their effect on health status of the population. Inadequate water supply, which leads to decreased food availability, is a major problem for Bedouin. Their dietary habits differ from people in other areas of Egypt, and mainly determined by socio-economic status and food availability. These habits affect both their nutritional and health status.
The aim of the study was to assess some health problems of Bedouin primary school students living in non-urban areas of Sinai.
This work was carried out in North Sinai Governorate schools in the academic year of 2008/2009. The calculated sample size was 243students aged (7-12 years). The sample was taken from eight governmental mixed schools. These chosen schools are from four districts (Al-Arish, Bir El Abd, Sheikh Zuwayed, and Al Hasnah) in North Sinai governorate. All classes from each grade were chosen. The chosen schools are Abo Arrag, Garada, Al Qriah, Bani-Mazar, Om Shehan, Awlaad Ali, Ibn Khaldoon, and Beer Lehfen. Data were collected via personal interview with the Bedouin Students. Ethical considerations were taken throughout the whole work. The tools were used to collect the data were:
1- Questionnaire: was adopted for all participants, including the following data:
a- Socio-demographic data: Which include age, sex, residence, number of sibling, sibling order, crowding index, parent educational level, occupation, availability of sanitary water, electricity, disposal sewage, housing, and information tools as radio, TV. and computer.
The social class was assessed according to El Sherbini and Fahmy (1983).
b- Dietary history: which includes number of daily meals, eating meat and fish, and school meal (Cake and milk or biscuits).
2-Anthropometric measurements (Weight, Height, Mid-arm circumference, Triceps skinfold thickness, Body mass index (BMI).
3- Clinical examination: The Bedouin students were examined in a good light in health insurance clinic, where they were subjected to general examination of (Hair, Lips, Teeth and gum, Tongue, Skin and nails) then full chest, heart and abdominal examination.
4- Laboratory investigations: urine and stool analysis, hemoglobin determination for each one of the studied students.
After the study was completed the collected data were recorded then presented and analyzed by using computerized software statistical package (Epi-Info 6.02).
The present study shows that 60.08% of the studied students are males, 11.39 % belong to middle social class while 88.07 belong to low social class and their ages ranged from 7 to 12 years. They are no longer considered nomads as 81.48% of the studied Bedouin students have ordinary houses. But, there are 80.25% of the studied Bedouin students have not governmental water supply, 11.52% have not electricity and 100% have not sanitary sewage disposal. Only 19.7% of the studied group have tap water supply, while 62.9% have haraba for water supply. Regarding underweight accounts for the highest percentage of Bedouin students. Studied boys recorded the higher values of underweight at all age groups than girls, except at 7 years age. While anemia accounts for the lowest percentage. Anemia among the studied group is associated with female gender students. Parasitic infection in the studied group is associated with students belonging to low social class but males were slightly more affected than females. Amebiasis constitutes the highest percentage of parasitic infection. Students belonging to middle social class were at a higher risk to have dental caries, but males were slightly more affected than females. Vitamin A deficiency constitutes the highest percentage of vitamin deficiency among the studied Bedouin students. Urine crystals constitute the highest percentage of urine laboratory findings among the studied Bedouin students.