An-Najah Staff

Headache is one of the most common complaints in clinical practice. Few studies regarding headache in university students have been conducted in the Middle East. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence, clinical characteristics, triggering factors and treatment options of headaches in university undergraduate students in Palestine/Middle East. Data were collected by interviewing a sample of 1900 students. The Headache Assessment Quiz was used to measure quality and severity of headache and to collect data on triggering factors and symptom management. A total of 1808 (95.2%) reported having at least one headache episode in the previous year. A positive family history of headache was found in 40% of students. The prevalence rate of frequent headache (tow or more episodes/month) was found in 1096 (60.9%) students; 613 women (55.9%). Of those having frequent headaches, 228 (20.8%) experienced moderate to severe episodes, 341 (31.2%) had pulsating, throbbing and pounding pain, and 274 (25%) had unilateral pain. The most common triggering factors among students with frequent headaches were: tension/stress (78.2%) and sleep deprivation (75.4%). Less than 5% of students sought medical assistance during headache episodes. Most students (79.1%) reported self-therapy with a single analgesic (53.4%), herbs (10.2%) or combination (15.5%), while 20.9% reported using no medication of any type to decrease pain. Paracetamol (48.5%) followed by ibuprofen (4.9%) were the most commonly used non-prescription analgesic drugs. Headache is a prevalent symptom in the college age population. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence of specific types of headaches. Healthcare providers are required to educate this population as well as to assist students in properly diagnosing and treating headache types.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Appropriate storage and use of medications in households may decrease drug wastage and unnecessary hazard. The objective of this study was to investigate storage, utilization habits and cost of medications in households in Palestine.
METHODS:  This is a cross sectional, anonymous, questionnaire-based study of 465 households in northern Palestine. The drug product inventory in the surveyed households was investigated and family members were interviewed.
RESULTS:  A total of 465 households were assessed, 50 were excluded. The total number of drug products in the 415 households was 5,505; the mean + or - SD was 13.3 + or - 7.8. Level of father's education, presence of chronic disease and insurance coverage were the variables that showed a significant relationship with the amount of drug products found in the households. Most of the drug products (43.4%) were stored in relatively unsafe places in the house within the reach of children. Approximately one third (32.5%) of the drug products were not in their original container. The percentages of unused drug products, expired, or those with no clear expiry date were 32.7%, 17.7% and 11% respectively. Estimated drug wastage in the 415 households and nationwide would be 16,100 and 19 million USD respectively. The most common drug categories encountered in households were alimentary, musculoskeletal and anti-infective agents. The most common individual drugs encountered were: paracetamol (8.5%), ibuprofen (4.9%) and diclofenac (3.7%).
CONCLUSION:  Medications were stored in large quantities in Palestinian households, and a large percentage was being wasted. Drug-use assessments and a comprehensive evaluation of the current national drug policies are warranted to curtail this problem.

Objective Inappropriate use of antibacterial agents may lead to drug wastage and potential therapeutic failures in the future. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of storage, and wastage of antibacterial agents in households in Palestine. Method This was a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study of households in northern Palestine. Any antibacterial agents present in the surveyed households were investigated and family members were interviewed. Main outcome measure Number and type of antibacterial agents stored in each household. Results The total number of antibacterial agents in the 465 surveyed households was 641, constituting 11.3% of the total stored medications. The average number of antibacterial agents was 1.4 ± 1.74 per household. The most common antibacterial agents encountered were amoxicillin (29.5%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (11.6%). Family size (P < 0.001), total number of stored medications (P < 0.001), and presence of elderly residents (>65 years) (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the presence of antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the level of parental education was significantly and positively (P = 0.009, r = 0.128; P = 0.013, r = 0.122 for father and mother respectively) correlated with the number of antibacterial agents found in the households. More than one-third (37.4%) of antibacterial agents were stored within the reach of children. Wasted antibacterial agents, defined as those which had expired or those with no clear expiry date were 16.4 and 10.1%, respectively. The percentage of antibacterial agents that were not currently in use was 69.3%. Estimated total value of antibacterial agents found in the study was 4,769, approximately4769approximately 11.5 per household. The total wastage of antibacterial agents was valued at 2,790, approximately2790approximately 6.7 per household. Conclusion Antibacterial agents were commonly encountered in Palestinian households, and a relatively large percentage was being wasted.

Recently, wastewater reuse is receiving a great deal of focus and interest among planners and decision makers in the West Bank, Palestine. This interest in wastewater reuse is motivated by the shortage in water resources accessibility due to the unstable political situation in the region. Much of the recent dispute that took place at the national level and among the stakeholders and planners revolved around issues related to the priorities of wastewater reuse in terms of location implementation of reuse schemes. The paper illustrates the conceptual framework for developing such a map and elaborates on the factors that dictate map development. Examples of such factors are discussed. The paper’s outcomes show that the development of the map requires a multi-disciplinary expertise and the work necessitates the collaboration among experts from different fields.

There is a critical lack of sanitation in the West Bank (Palestine).Most domestic sewage is disposed of into unlined cesspits or septic tanks, or directly discharged to the environment without treatment. Water resources in the West Bank are limited, and nearly 70% of the water is used for agricultural irrigation. Reuse of treated (reclaimed) wastewater has great potential to alleviate these problems and improve crop yield, but there are many challenges to implementing wastewater reuse. This paper presents a case study in the West Bank town of Tubas, which currently has no sewage collection system or treatment. This study includes traditional engineering design and will address socio-cultural issues through a detailed survey of public perceptions about reclaimed wastewater and an education plan for the various stakeholders in the town. This approach should lead to a wastewater reuse system that is beneficial to Tubas as well as sustainable.

There is a critical lack of sanitation in the West Bank (Palestine).Most domestic sewage is disposed of into unlined cesspits or septic tanks, or directly discharged to the environment without treatment. Water resources in the West Bank are limited, and nearly 70% of the water is used for agricultural irrigation. Reuse of treated (reclaimed) wastewater has great potential to alleviate these problems and improve crop yield, but there are many challenges to implementing wastewater reuse. This paper presents a case study in the West Bank town of Tubas, which currently has no sewage collection system or treatment. This study includes traditional engineering design and will address socio-cultural issues through a detailed survey of public perceptions about reclaimed wastewater and an education plan for the various stakeholders in the town. This approach should lead to a wastewater reuse system that is beneficial to Tubas as well as sustainable.

This study sought to identify the degree of psychological stresses prevalent among people working in psychological counseling services and their relationship with the variables of sex, age, job title, experience and place of work. The population of the study was 249 specialists in the northern governorates : Nablus, Qalqilya, Salfit, Jenin and Tulkarm.  The sample of the study consisted of 154 specialists chosen randomly and representing 61.8% of the population of the study. After data collection and analysis, it was found that the degree psychological stresses among providers of psychological counseling services in northern Palestine , was moderate-high moderate (2.93) or 58.6% . The importance of the job in the society occupied the first place among the domains of the psychological stresses. The degree was high and the arithmetic average was (3.18) or 63.8%. The findings also revealed statistically significant differences among the domains of the study.  The findings confirmed that the psychological stresses among the providers of psychological counseling services come form the drop in the value of the career in the society to a low degree.  In addition, the provision of psychological services also causes psychological stress to the provider. Also lack of material and moral incentives significantly affect the psyche of the provider when he/she provides the service. However, there stresses are alleviated a little thanks to the development of human relations and the personality traits associated with the success of career.

هدفت الدراسة  التعرف إلى  درجة الضغوط النفسية لدى العاملين في مجال الخدمات النفسية في فلسطين، وإضافة إلى تحديد الفروق في الضغوط النفسية تبعاً لمتغيرات (الجنس، والعمر، والمسمى الوظيفي، والخبرة، ومكان العمل)، وتكون مجتمع الدراسة من (249) اخصائي واخصائية في محافظة فلسطين – نابلس – قلقيلية – سلفيت – جنين ، وطولكرم، اما عينة الدراسة تكونت من (154) اخصائي واخصائية والتي تم اختيارهم بالطريقة الطبقية العشوائية ، وقد شكلت ما نسبته (61.8%) من مجتمع الدراسة.  وبعد تطبيق إجراءات الدراسة واستخدام المعالجات الإحصائية المناسبة تبين ان الضغوط النفسية لدى العاملين في مجال الخدمة النفسية في شمال فلسطين جاء بدرجة متوسطة وبمتوسط حسابي (2.93) أي بنسبة مئوية (58.6%) واحتل مجال أهمية المهنة في المجتمع المرتبة الاولى بين مجالات الضغوط النفسية. إذ جاء بدرجة عالية وبمتوسط حسابي (3.18) وبنسبة مئوية (63.8%).  وأظهرت النتائج وجود  فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين مجالات الدراسة ،إضافة إلى انه لا توجد فروق تعباً لمتغيرات(الجنس ، والعمل، والمسمى الوظيفي ، ومكان العمل).
وأوصت الباحثة بعدة توصيات من أهمها:
-  تحسين الخدمات النفسية في المؤسسات حتى تشجع الطلبة على هذه الخدمات
-  العمل على رفع كفاءة العاملين في الخدمات النفسية بإعطائهم دورات مختلفة ومتخصصه في علاج الضغوط النفسية.
- العمل على تغيير المفاهيم الخاطئة لدى المجتمع حول دراسة علم النفس عامة عن طريق الندوات وعن طريق التلفزيون والاذاعة.

A total of 30 fecal samples collected from individuals admitted to a local hospital in Nablus city in Palestine with gastroenteritis symptoms, plus 5 fecal samples from healthy individuals living in the same area were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. by microscopic analysis using malachite green negative staining. Molecular techniques were used to confirm the microscopic identification. Of these, all the 30 samples from individuals with gastroenteritis symptoms were positive by both techniques. No other parasites were found in the fecal material of patients or healthy individuals. To explore the source of the outbreak, water was collected from various reservoirs and springs which supply the city with drinking water. Al-Qaryoon water spring was also found to be contaminated with Cryptosporidium using both microscopic and molecular analysis. No other water resources was found to be contaminated. Genotyping analysis of Cryptosporidium oocysts using PCR-RFLP technique identified the parasite as C. parvum. This study is the first of its type in the country, and it reports the presence of cryptosporidiosis in the region.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites among Jenin Governorate (Northern Palestine) population.
Methods: A retrospective laboratory analysis of stool specimens was carried out for intestinal parasite examination in Jenin Governmental Hospital, Jenin Governorate, Northern Palestine. The records were collected from the clinical microbiology laboratory of the Jenin Governmental Hospital between January 2000 and December 2009.
Results: Our retrospective study showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection during 10 years ranged from 32.0-41.5%. There are at least 7 different parasites encountered. The most common pathogenic parasites identified were: Entamoeba histolytica (8.2-18.2%), Enterobius vermicularis (15.6-28.9%). The other parasites present were Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Taenia species and Ancylostoma duodenale (Hookworms (
Conclusions  Intestinal parasitic infection is an important public health problem in Jenin governorate, Palestine. It is necessary to develop effective prevention and control strategies including health education and environmental sanitation improvement.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites among Jenin Governorate (Northern Palestine) population.
Methods: A retrospective laboratory analysis of stool specimens was carried out for intestinal parasite examination in Jenin Governmental Hospital, Jenin Governorate, Northern Palestine. The records were collected from the clinical microbiology laboratory of the Jenin Governmental Hospital between January 2000 and December 2009.
Results: Our retrospective study showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection during 10 years ranged from 32.0-41.5%. There are at least 7 different parasites encountered. The most common pathogenic parasites identified were: Entamoeba histolytica (8.2-18.2%), Enterobius vermicularis (15.6-28.9%). The other parasites present were Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Taenia species and Ancylostoma duodenale (Hookworms (
Conclusions  Intestinal parasitic infection is an important public health problem in Jenin governorate, Palestine. It is necessary to develop effective prevention and control strategies including health education and environmental sanitation improvement