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Background: Dokha is a novel form of smoking in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on which there is very little published literature, especially among adolescents, and this form of smoking has been not been addressed adequately in the smoking cessation strategies in the UAE. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of dokha smoking among male secondary school students in Ajman UAE. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among male secondary school students in Ajman, UAE. A total of 560 participants filled in selfadministered questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of ever smokers was 39%; ever dokha smokers was 36% and current dokha smokers was 24%. The prevalence is very high when compared to other forms of smoking in the region and globally. Prevalence increased with increasing age and grade of students, prevalence of ever smokers, ever dokha smokers and current dokha smokers was lower in students in the science stream. 40% of the smokers used dokha, cigarettes and shisha, 30% used dokha and cigarettes, and 21% used dokha alone. 30% of the students smoked dokha on all days of the month. Conclusions: The prevalence of ever smokers, ever dokha smokers and current dokha smokers is very high. There is an urgent need for specific health promotion programs tailored to this age group on prevention of dokha smoking and policies restricting the availability of dokha to this age group.

Breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and its incidence is increasing, particularly in developing countries. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many cases are first diagnosed in later stages and at younger age compared to those seen in developed countries. Early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcome and survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. Performance of breast self examination is one of the important steps for identifying breast disease at an early stage, by the woman herself. No information has hitherto been available about the frequency of this practice among female university students in UAE or about their breast cancer risk perception and therefore the present study was conducted in Ajman. It was found that 22.7% of the participants practiced BSE but only 3% of them practiced BSE monthly. Marital status but not age as significantly associated with age likelihood. The most frequent reported barriers for BSE were lack of knowledge, considering oneself not at risk and the absence of doctor advice. These factors need to be taken into account in intervention efforts.

Introduction: It is widely acknowledged that congenital anomalies heavily contribute to infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated 9 million infants (7% of all births) born annually having a serious congenital anomaly that result in death or lifelong disability. The objective of our study was to estimate the frequency of congenital anomalies at the Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Ajman and to estimate the proportion of births with congenital anomalies per 1,000 live births. Materials and Methods: It was a Hospital-Record based descriptive study of the 1,222 consecutive live births from December 2007 to June 2008. Results: There were 84 cases of congenital anomalies among the 1,222 live births; the rate of anomalous births was 68.7 per 1,000 live births or 6.9%. Anomalies of the genitourinary system (40.5%) were the most common, followed by musculoskeletal (28.6%) and cardiovascular (10.7%). Gastrointestinal, chromosomal and multiple system anomalies accounted for 3.6% each and miscellaneous anomalies were seen in 7.1%. Central Nervous system (2.4%) anomalies were the least. Congenital hydrocele (19.0%) was seen to have the highest frequency amongst all recorded anomalies, followed by Talipes or Clubfoot (14.3%). 9.3% of the male and 4.3% of the female population of live births had a congenital anomaly. Birth Weight ( p =0.005) and Gender ( p =0.001) were found to have significant association with the frequency of birth defects. Maternal Age, gravidity, parity, previous abortions, VDRL and Hepatitis B status, Gestational Diabetes, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, gestational age, maternal and infant blood group, nationality and consanguinity showed no statistically significant association with congenital anomalies. Conclusion: The proportion of congenital anomalies found in our study is alarmingly high and emphasizes the need for more accessible nationwide screening, counseling and surveillance systems. J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. 32(2) 2012 105-112 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v32i2.5995

BackgroundResilience is the capacity to recover and to cope successfullywith everyday challenges. Resilience has intrinsic andextrinsic components and an effort has been made to studythe intrinsic component and its association with sociodemographicfactors, among the entry level students of theIntegrated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery(MBBS) course.MethodThe present study was conducted in Gulf MedicalUniversity, using a self-administered questionnaire,comprising of two parts, distributed to all the students whoconsented to participate. The first part contained questionson socio-demographic details while the second partcontained questions on the intrinsic and extrinsiccomponents of resilience of the students. The datacollected was analysed using Predictive Analytic Software(PASW) 18.0 using frequency, mean, SD and median.ResultsAmong the 58 students who participated 24 (41.4%) weremales and 34 (58.6%) females, of which 70.7% were < 20years and 29.3% > 20years. The mean score for the intrinsiccomponent of resilience was 48.9 (SD, 5 and range 35–60).The median scores showed no significant variation (p

Context: Hypertension in youth is increasing, but there is a dearth of data about the knowledge of risk factors in this age group. Aims: To assess the knowledge of risk factors of hypertension among university students and associate it with the blood pressure, physical activity, family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and sociodemographic variables. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey among students enrolled in the first year, in the four academic programs, with the use of a validated, self-administered questionnaire on physical activity in the past 30 days and knowledge of risk factors of hypertension. A score of 6 on 11 was considered as good knowledge for modifiable risk factors. Blood pressure was also measured. The data was analyzed using PASW-17, Chi square test, and binary logistic regression analysis was done. Results: Of the 110 participants, 69.2% were < 20 years of age, 76.4% were females, and 40% were Arabs. Stress, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking were identified as risk factors by 75.5, 73.6, 77.6, and 71.8%, respectively; 69.1% considered high salt intake and 62.7% considered high calorie diet as risk factors. Energy drink was considered as a risk factor by 64.5%, coffee consumption 35.5%, physical inactivity 47%, and oral contraceptives 13.6%. Half the group did not consider a family history of CVD as a risk factor, 60% did not consider older age as a risk factor, and 88% did not think male gender was a risk factor. Knowledge of modifiable risk factors was better than that of non-modifiable risk factors. Although nationality, course of study, raised blood pressure, and history of diabetes showed significant association with good knowledge, their net effect was not significant by the Adjusted Odd's Ratio. Conclusions: The study identified some gaps in knowledge regarding both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of hypertension among students. A larger study would enable health promotion activities tailored to the needs of this age group.

Teaching and learning the passing of knowledge from one generation to another - has been in existence from the earliest times of human civilization. It began in 1801, with a large piece of slate hung on the wall in a school in Scotland to provide information to a large audience at one time. In the US by mid-19th century, every class room had a blackboard to teach students. The modern version of the blackboard is either green or brown board. This was introduced in late 1960s. The whiteboards came into use during the late 1980s. Projected aids have been used since 1420. The various devices used are the epidiascope, slide projector, overhead projector for transparencies and the micro projector. An instrument to project images from a horizontal surface onto a vertical screen was invented in the 1870s. By the 1960s, transparencies were in use in classrooms. The ‘Hyalotype’, a transparent image of a photograph using actual black and white photographs on a glass slide that could be projected was invented in 1851. By 1916, the German company Agfa started producing colored lantern slides. The first version of PowerPoint was released by Microsoft in the year 1990. Cell phones, palmtops, and handheld computers; tablets, laptops, and media players are included under mobile learning devices. With the evolution of technology, students achieved competence and interested in interactive learning. The education industry has moved from distance learning to e-learning and finally to m-learning as knowledge expanded exponentially and the demand escalated. While using teaching aids with advanced technology, we must not forget the lessons from the past, striking a balance between embracing new methods of teaching and learning while upholding the timeless principles of education. The newer educational technology can be part of a comprehensive system for lifelong education. Conclusion: Use of technology in education has come a long way since the earliest times of human civilization. While embarking on aids with advanced technology, we need to take full cognizance of the lessons from the past, striking a balance between embracing new methods of teaching and learning while holding on to the timeless principles of education. Thus, the newer educational technology can be effective tools of teaching and learning in this rapidly changing technological world and be part of a comprehensive system for lifelong education. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to acknowledge Prof. Raja Bandaranayake for his valuable suggestions and editing this manuscript.

Objective : The goal of this research was to identify familial and non-familial social factors influencing post-secondary students’ choices of career in medicine. Method : The comparative study was conducted in Ajman, among medical students in the beginning three years, and non-medical students at the same educational level. After obtaining verbal consent, the participants completed a pilot tested, self-administered questionnaire which included socio-demographic variables and social factors related to career choices. Result : Among the 135 medical students, two thirds were females and 87.3% were below 23 years of age. Most fathers were South Asians (53%); 80% had professional training; 48% were business persons and 12% worked in the medical field. Among mothers, 61.4% were professionally trained, and 67.2% was engaged in unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled labor. The non-medical students had mostly Middle Eastern fathers (83.5%), were professionally educated (56.3%) and had careers in business (52.9%); mothers of non-medical students were primarily working in unskilled, skilled or semi-skilled occupations (61.4%) and 38% had attained a professional level of education. The majority of medical students perceived their parents to have had strong influence on their career choice of medicine. Among non-familial social factors, ‘friends’ had a significantly weak influence on their career choice. While more medical students chose their career along with parents, most of the non-medical group made the choice on their own. Conclusion : Parents had significant influence on post-secondary career choice in medicine and friends had a weak influence. Career guidance programs should consider including parents at the process of career selection at the secondary level.

Background: In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tobacco use is rampant. A less reported, yet widely used form of smoking native to UAE is midwakh or dhokha. The aim of the study is to assess the acute effects of smoking dokha (Arabian pipe) on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems among male university students in the UAE. Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 97 male volunteers aged more than 17 years. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate of each participant, were measured before and immediately after smoking. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect personal details and data about smoking pattern. Results: Mean increases in systolic blood pressures (12 ± 1 mmHg), heart rates (20 ± 2 bpm) and respiratory rates (4 ± 1 breaths/min) were observed (p < 0.001). A mean decrease in diastolic blood pressures (1 ± 1 mmHg) was observed (p = 0.483). Conclusion: Smoking dokha has a significant acute effect on systolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. Anti smoking campaigns must address the ill effects of this form of smoking. Results from the study warrant further research into this method of smoking which is becoming more popular.

Introduction: In order to control the tobacco scourge, an array of measures is required. Among them is focusing on adolescent relationships as it has been shown that being in a close relationship with a smoker or a non smoker will in the long run be a major factor in deciding whether the individual adopts smoking for initial non- smokers or ceases the habit for initial smokers. Objectives: To assess the attitude of youth towards other smokers and towards marrying a smoker. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 415 students from five universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The Chi square test was used to detect significant differences between frequencies. Results: Of the 415 participants who provided their gender information, 99 (24%) were males and 314 (76%) were females. Of all the participants, 83.5% were not willing to marry smokers, while 16.5% were willing. Of those whose parents smoked (106) 68% did not like it when their parents smoked, 13.6% had no opinion, 17.5% did not mind, while the other 1% had other thoughts. Of those whose close friends smoked, 43.4% did not like it, 16.2% did not have any opinion, 36.9% did not mind while 3.5% had other thoughts. Conclusion: Most participants, both males and females are not willing to marry smokers and prefer to have non-smokers as spouses. Also, smokers are seen as less attractive by both genders in contrast to what appears as popular beliefs amongst youngsters and what is depicted in tobacco advertisements. Tobacco control activities can be undertaken in the community and colleges by incorporating students as facilitators.

Objectives: This study intended to determine the degree of influence of the media on the body image of students in the United Arab Emirates. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional survey collected data from 372 school and college students residing in UAE (129 males, 243 females) using a self-administered questionnaire. The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, height, weight, social factors, and influence of different media on perceived body image. Data was entered on Microsoft Excel and analyzed on PASW 18.0 version using chi-square test for association and data presented as descriptive statistics. Results: Twenty eight percent of the study group reported media to be the most influential factor on perception of appearance, of which internet was found to be the most influential medium (47.3% males and 42% females) on body image, followed by television (31% males and 37% females). Media were not as important as “attitude of family” (37.4%), “attitude of the opposite sex” (36.9%) or “attitude of friends/peers” (34.7%) which ranked highest among the most influencing factors. Media were considered moderately influencing (37.4%), with the other factors having almost equal importance. Media had effect only on the emotional and cognitive aspects. It was found that no single factor among the tested influential factors had a great impact on the body image of the youth of UAE, though there were several moderately influencing factors of almost equal importance. The overweight participants considered media to have ‘strong influence’ (p

The objective was to estimate the prevalence of and reasons for using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for various musculoskeletal conditions and to determine the most common musculoskeletal problems for which CAM is used. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 305 subjects, which included the doctors and staff members of Gulf Medical University and Gulf Medical Hospital, 20 years of age and over. Data were analysed using the SPSS program. Of the subjects documented, 51.1% admitted that they used alternative medicine, of which 30.1% used it alongside conventional medicine. Most subjects interviewed used Ayurveda (34%) and the most common use of CAM was to relieve general aches and pains (46.8%). A total of 30.2% of CAM users stated that ‘ conventional medicine was not effective ’ , 23% of them felt that CAM ‘ relieves stress ’ and 22.6% felt that it could reduce the severity of the condition. Painkillers were the most common conventional medicine usedalongside alternative medicine (48.2%). No significant difference was found between the effectiveness of CAM alone and CAM with conventional medicine. More than half the participants were making increasing use of CAM. Hospitals can provide CAM alongside conventional medicine in the UAE.

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of adolescents of Indian origin living in India and the United Arab Emirates to see how variable the prevalence is of stunting and wasting among adolescents of the same ethnic background living in different socio-economic and demographic environments. Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional survey. Setting: Schools in South India and the United Arab Emirates. Participants: A total of 2459 adolescent boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years old. Results and Discussion: Anthropometric measurements from 2459 adolescents between the ages of 10-16 years old, 1200 from India and 1259 from UAE, were collected. The subjects were divided into six age groups with 1-year intervals. Adolescents falling below the age and gender-specific 5 th percentile and 3 rd percentile of the WHO recommended standards were defined as having thinness and stunting accordingly. Regardless of gender, the rate of stunting was higher in Indian adolescents from India (25.5-51%) when compared with Indian adolescents in UAE (3.1-21%). Thinness was also more in those in India (42-75.4%). When compared with adolescents living in the UAE (4.5-14.4%). The study was done in two groups having a common ethnicity but living in different socio-economic environments. With the results of this study, we can say that improved economic conditions favor better expression of genetic potential for physical growth.

Background Youth is a vulnerable group for developing almost all life-style related diseases. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the determinants of blood pressure among entry year students in a medical university in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Materials and Methods One hundred and ten students from Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE participated in the study. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Predictive Analytic Software 17 was used for data analysis. Chi-square test, Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used. Results Variables such as tobacco use, duration of sleep, Body Mass Index and gender were considered to assess the association with blood pressure. The mean age of the students was 19 years with a SD of 1.9 years. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 113.5 (SD 12.0) and 73.7 (SD 11.2) respectively with mean BMI of 24.9 (SD 5.7). A statistically significant association was observed between gender and blood pressure (p