Vascular access infection among hemodialysis patients in Northern Jordan: incidence and risk factors.

Objectives: Vascular access infection (VAI) causes significant mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this prospective, descriptive, exploratory survey of end-stage renal disease patients was to explore the incidence and risk factors of VAI.

Methods: A total of 188 patients were included in the study from five different hospital/dialysis units in northern Jordan.

Children's environmental health in Central Asia and the Middle east.

Children in Central Asia and the Middle East bear disproportionate environmental threats to health, of which the most widespread and serious result from poverty, malnutrition, lack of access to safe drinking water and food, and exposures to toxic chemicals. Their psychological health is threatened in several parts of this region by internal wars and strife. Many, or even most, children are regularly exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

Intrauterine contraceptive device discontinuation among Jordanian women: rate, causes and determinants.

Objective: To determine the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) discontinuation rate and its causes and related factors among women attending UNRWA health centres in Jordan.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 371 women who had an IUD inserted during 1997 and who were interviewed during their visits to the health centres in the period January-March 2003. The main outcome measure was IUD discontinuation.

Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in healthy schoolchildren.

Objective: Data regarding the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its potential risk factors among schoolchildren from the Middle East is scarce.

Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to investigate H. pylori status in four groups of children: The first and second groups, 50 children each (25 boys, 25 girls) included children from high socioeconomic class (group 1 = 6 years old; group 2 = 9 years old).

Periodontal status of diabetics compared with nondiabetics: a meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases by comparing the extent and severity of periodontal diseases between diabetics and nondiabetics.

Methods: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE database for published studies from January 1970 through October 2003 with manual search for references in relevant studies. This meta-analysis was based on 18 comparative cross-sectional studies, three prospective cohort studies and baseline data of two clinical trials that compared oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal status between diabetics and nondiabetics.

Socio-demographic characteristics of adolescents with epilepsy in Northern Jordan.

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of epilepsy, and to compare these results with findings of comparable studies from other parts of the world.

Method: Initially, the target population of this study consisted of 116 patients with epilepsy randomly selected, over a 6-month period, from those patients attending the neurology clinic at Princess Basma Teaching Hospital (PBTH) in Northern Jordan. However, seven patients were dropped from the study and eight others refused to participate in the study.