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The clinical profile of students attending informal schools in three rural governorates in upper Egypt: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND
Combating poverty and illiteracy represents the cornerstone for promoting health among Egyptian children; yet, drop out from the elementary education is a major problem facing stakeholders in Egyptian governorates. To tackle this problem, many projects were implemented such as reading and writing classes, and Girls Education Initiatives (GEIs).


OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to construct a clinical and laboratory database for students attending the Girls Education Initiative schools in Upper Egypt.


PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was carried out by involving schoolchildren in three Egyptian Governorates implementing the Girls Education Initiative (GEI) project in 197 schools in these governorates. For each student, a questionnaire investigated the possible predictors for intestinal parasitic infections, a stool sample was examined using the Kato-Katz technique, the hemoglobin concentration was measured, and anthropometric assessments measuring weight and height were carried out.


RESULTS
Out of 2695 students, 898 (33.3%) students were infected by parasites; 92% of these students were infected by Enterobius vermicularis worms. The mean weight of the girls was 29.4±10.6 kg and that of the boys was 29.1±8.6 kg. The mean height of the girls was 132.5±16.9 cm and that of the boys was 132.9±16.3 cm. BMI was 16.6±6.8 and 16.7±9.5 for girls and boys, respectively. The mean hemoglobin levels were 10.6±1.37 and 10.7±1.4 mg for girls and boys, respectively. More than two-thirds of the studied group had poor hygiene habits, such as contact with canal water, not washing their hands before and after eating food, not washing their hands after bathroom visits, and not washing vegetables and fruits.


CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The students studied had chronic nutritional deficiencies, mainly anemia. Poor hygiene habits, poor household sanitation, and lack of parents' education in rural areas were predictors for intestinal infections. It is recommended that health education campaigns be conducted to increase students' and mothers' awareness and encourage proper sanitation and hygiene habits at home and in their environment.