منصة إيفاد العلمية

فؤاد معاوي

إرسال رسالة

التخصص: علوم التربية

الجامعة: الجامعة الإفتراضية بتونس

النقاط:

20.5

معامل الإنتاج البحثي

الخبرات العلمية

Associate researcher at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis

الأبحاث المنشورة

Emotional and behavioral attitudes of Tunisian youth towards childhood leukemia: health education and primary prevention in perspective

المجلة: BMC Public Health

سنة النشر: 2022

تاريخ النشر: 2022-11-17

Background Given the increasing blood cancer incidence in Tunisia and recent discoveries proving the involvement of environmental factors, this study examined the environmental health literacy (EHL) of Tunisian secondary school students concerning not only this disease, but also their emotional and behavioral attitudes towards leukemia risks. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Tunisian youths (N = 372, 16–20 years; 68% females, 32% males). Data collection took place in four representative public secondary schools in the North, Center, and South of Tunisia. Students completed a paper and pencil questionnaire and described their EHL level of blood cancer, as well as their attitudes and interests in this disease. The statistical software (SPSS, v.25.0) was used to analyze the data collected. Results The results indicated low EHL levels of leukemia. Most youths failed to identify all the leukemogenic (except tobacco and pollution) and non- leukemogenic risk factors. Pesticide use and exposure to low frequency electromagnetic radiation were not considered risk factors. Proximity to heavy-traffic roads and benzene exposure were not perceived by youth as risk factors. Despite these low levels, most participants were interested in having more information about leukemia and cancers in general. Conclusion This investigation shows a lack of knowledge about leukemia. Low EHL levels will incite educational actors and curriculum designers to optimize content and innovate ICT adapted to this environmental health challenge.

Infectious disease risk perception among Tunisian students: a case study of Leishmaniasis

المجلة: Journal of Global Health Reports

سنة النشر: 2019

تاريخ النشر: 2019-05-01

Background In North Africa, especially in Tunisia, leishmaniasis is a real public health problem with 2000 to 8000 cases per year and average incidence rate >1/100 in some hyper-endemic villages. The geographical extension of the three forms of this zoonosis, the high incidence, the exorbitant cost (management, control) and especially the harms: functional, aesthetic, social, psychological are issues that question the promotional role of health education in Tunisian schools. In Tunisia, the introduction of health education in biological programs and textbooks aims at acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to prevent health risks. The present study aims to detect possible failures and to present a path of intervention to innovate preventive measures against infectious diseases. Methods This is a study conducted in two stages: First, a cross-sectional survey, which included 261 Tunisian school students from different educational levels and residents in different regions of the country. Second, a didactic analysis of Tunisian curricula related to infectious diseases prevention. Results All of the results showed that students in general, do not really know this disease, especially with regard to risks, treatments and prevention. The question on the knowledge of the three most common diseases in Tunisia that can be transmitted by contact with animals or insects seems to have been difficult to understand. The fact that a large proportion of school students did not answer the question, and, that another group, mentioned infectious diseases that are absent in Tunisia or not zoonotic, could reveal a lack of knowledge about infectious disease, related to animals. A curriculum analysis of recent Life Sciences textbooks reveals a dominance of the biomedical model. The promotional model is almost absent. Conclusion Deficits noted in terms of knowledge, perceptions and management capabilities of cutaneous leishmaniasis can be explained by the absence of this disease in Tunisian Life Sciences curricula. Currently, empowerment and psychosocial skills development, which are essential to perceive and manage the risks of zoonotic infection, are not among the health educational aims.

For a Better Literacy of Tunisians in Eco-health: Leishmaniasis Case

المجلة: Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition)

سنة النشر: 2021

تاريخ النشر: 2021-04-11

Background: In Tunisia, leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem. Climate changes, geographical extension of this zoonosis, high incidence and especially harms: functional, aesthetic, social, psychological are issues that question the Environmental and health education in schools. Methods: This study was conducted in two stages: First, a cross-sectional survey, which included Tunisian school students residing in different regions of the country. Second, a curricula analysis of Life Sciences related to infectious diseases prevention. Results: The results of the cross-sectional survey show low literacy scores toward leishmaniasis. The risk perception depends on geographical proximity, gender, media coverage, and didactic choices. Leishmaniasis was in the penultimate position in the classification of infectious diseases feared by secondary school students (2.6%). This disease interested more school students in the south of Tunisia than those in the north (7.5% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.05). Female students generally had a more acute perception of risk. They were more likely to perceive the possibility of contracting an infectious disease in everyday situations (24.8% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.05). Only 33% of students surveyed knew that the disease is parasitic. They had no specific knowledge on leishmaniasis or its transmission modes: cough (23%), sexual intercourse (19.3%), skin (37.3%), and food (29.8%). (26%) have reported that there is an effective treatment for leishmaniasis, whereas (12%) believed the opposite and more than half (62%) had no idea. Conclusion: Poor literacy is correlated with the absence of leishmaniasis in the Tunisian health education curriculum. Informing and mobilizing youth through promotional interventions adapted to the local situations and aiming to anticipate eco-health risks is essential.

Health literacy for Tunisian youth: What should we do for effective prevention of hemoglobinopathies?

المجلة: Population Medicine

سنة النشر: 2023

تاريخ النشر: 2023-04-15

Background and Objective: Health education in secondary school plays a critical role in anticipating hemoglobinopathies transmission risks. Nonetheless, there are only a few research studies examining the health literacy level of adolescents under age 19. The Objective of our study is to explore the knowledge and skills related to the prevention of hemoglobinopathies. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted among Tunisian youths attending public secondary schools and learning about human genetics (n = 356; male 28.1 %, female 71.9 %). Results: The Results show that concerning literacy to hemoglobinopathies, significant differences in knowledge, risk perception, and behavioral attitudes were found by gender, age, and school level (Sig < 0.05). 65,4 % has not identified the hereditary nature of diseases and confuse it with dietary iron anemia 41,6 %. Although 55,3 % of respondents recognized severe anemia as a symptom, however, 71,3 % did not link jaundice to thalassemia, almost 30% said this disease causes rash, fever, dry cough and sore throat. The Results show low levels the difficulties of youths to consider the hereditary transmission risks of haemoglobinopathies and to understand the importance of screening and genetic counseling. 36,8% of students (59% Male vs 28 % Female) do not consider it necessary to inform their partner of their carrier status. 59.5 % (67% Male vs 56.64 Female; Sig = 0.04) do not see the benefit of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis even if the family of one of the two partners has a history with disease. Conclusions: Knowledge acquisition in human genetics remains insufficient to actively engage adolescents in the primary prevention of hemoglobinopathies. It is essential to plan health promotion and education interventions in conjunction with genetic learning. Messages based on real-life stories can help in understanding these diseases and promote health literacy.

Empowering Tunisians Youth to seasonal influenza: Auto medication versus empathy

المجلة: The European Journal of Public Health

سنة النشر: 2020

تاريخ النشر: 2020-09-20

Background and aim In Tunisia, self-medication against seasonal influenza is a public health problem that mainly affects low- and middle-income social categories. For implementation of an educational intervention, this study will assess young Tunisians' literacy towards Seasonal Influenza. Health education, socio-demographic (gender and intersectionality) and media variables will be explored. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, which included Tunisian students from different educational levels and residents in different regions of the country. Results The results show that the risk perception and level literacy depend on gender, geographical proximity, media coverage and didactic choices. The fears of male students in preparatory or secondary school focus significantly more than for female school students around seasonal Influenza, respectively (21.5% vs. 10%, p < 0.05) and (25.7% vs 7.4%, p < 0.05). Among the behaviors purposed to students, to protect themselves from infectious diseases, the consumption of antibiotics! ranks second before personal hygiene (hand washing), vaccination and avoidance measures. In general, 'avoid public places' and 'avoid taking public transport' are behaviors that seem little or not adopted in case of influenza whatever the school level or the study specialty of youths. Questions were asked, moreover, on 'the acceptability of the mask wearing in family and in the public space'. Only 14% preparatory school students and 11% of secondary school students would 'totally' agree to wear it at home and away from home. Conclusions Considering the literacy level of young Tunisians towards the seasonal influenza, pandemic and MDR risks remains high. Innovative educational interventions, which combining epidemiological and ecological knowledge (social, economic, scientific, epidemiological and individual contexts), would be better adapted to new and emerging health issues and could reduce social inequalities in health. Key messages Social qualification in the face of infectious diseases. Development of capacities to perceive and manage seasonal Influenza.

The New Epidemiological Challenges of the Tunisian School: Are We Ready?

المجلة: Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions

سنة النشر: 2018

تاريخ النشر: 2018-05-05

Health education participates in the progressive acquisition of knowledge and skills which will allow the pupils to make responsible choice regarding health. By developing competences in terms of prevention, responsibility, reached the objectives of education to the citizenship. In fact, the Tunisian youth is confronted with new problems, new challenges and plagues.

Status of Hand Washing for Tunisians Youth: Prevention Measure or Social Mimicry?

المجلة: J Health Edu Res Dev

سنة النشر: 2020

تاريخ النشر: 2020-02-04

Background: Since its independence, Tunisia has made great progress in the prevention of infectious diseases through compulsory vaccination and the normalization of behavior through the instruction of hygiene measures at school. However, social mutations, regional economic disparity and the effect of climate change question the effectiveness of educational interventions at school. Is the current health education model able to cope with new and emerging epidemiological challenges? Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey elaborated in the form of a questionnaire, which included 261 Tunisian school students. In this study, the analysis focuses on the status of handwashing and its place among the management of infectious risk, the identification of practices perceived to be at risk of contracting an infectious disease, and preventive behaviors adopted by the Tunisian school students. Results: A results survey analysis reveals that the practices related to personal hygiene occupy the last position, so only 5.7% of the students questioned affirm to adopt measures related to good personal hygiene and washing hands. A significant difference characterizes the preferred prevention measures according to gender, education level and specialty of the study (sig<0.05) with:Female school students at the preparatory and secondary levels are more likely to opt for body hygiene and handwashing in terms of frequency and different situations of everyday life. 21.6% of female students report washing their hands 10 times a day, compared with 6.5% for male students. 14% of literary students and 0% of scientists cite "personal hygiene" in the last position preferred prevention measures. For situations with potential infectious risk: Only 16.5% of secondary school students report washing their hands "After blowing his nose" and 11,8% "after taking public transport". Didactic analysis of recent Life Sciences textbooks reveals the dominance of the biomedical model aimed at the transmission of information on certain infectious risks and prescribing preventive measures. The promotional model is almost absent. Conclusion: Handwashing is not considered as a preventive measure against infectious diseases but rather as a social imitation. This status of handwashing is correlated with the dominant biomedical model of health education.

HEALTH LITERACY LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH THALASSEMIA AMONG TUNISIAN’S YOUTH AND PROSPECTS FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION

المجلة: HemaSphere

سنة النشر: 2022

تاريخ النشر: 2022-06-01

Background: Thalassemia remains a public health problem in Tunisia. The difficulties in setting up a prevention program can be explained in part by negative social representations and the general public’s ignorance of this disease. Aims: This study examined the health literacy (HL) of Tunisian secondary school students regarding thalassemia as well as their emotional and behavioral attitudes towards this disease and preventive measures. Methods: This is a quantitative study; a cross-sectional survey was conducted among Tunisian youths (n = 182; male 23,3 %, female 76,7 %). Data collection took place in two public secondary schools. Students aged 17 to 19 completed a paper and pencil questionnaire and described their knowledge level about Thalassemia, their affective and behavioral attitudes as well as their estimates of hereditary transmission risks and usefulness of prevention measures. Statistical software (SPSS, v.25.0) was used to analyze the data. Results: The results indicate low HL scores concerning Thalassemia. Lack of knowledge and confusion about the cause, symptoms, and diagnosis of Thalassemia is a common finding at all school levels surveyed. 48,9 % has not identified the hereditary nature of diseases and confuse it with dietary iron anemia 30,7%. Although 70,5% of respondents recognized severe anemia as a symptom however, 57,4% did not link jaundice to thalassemia, almost 30% said this disease causes rash, fever, dry cough and sore throat. The results show low levels in relation with assessment of the hereditary transmission risks on the one hand and the prenuptial screening usefulness on the other hand. 24,4% do not consider it necessary to inform their partner of their carrier status. 45% do not see the benefit of genetic counseling before marriage and prenatal diagnosis even if the family of one of the two partners has a history with disease. Summary/Conclusion: Primary prevention of thalassemia depends on a comprehensive strategy of promotion and health education for Tunisian’s youth. This survey reveals the difficulties of youths to consider the risks of hereditary transmission of thalassemia and to understand the importance of screening and genetic counseling. These results can be explained by the deficit of communication about disease severity and the lack of adequate educational content in Life Sciences programs.

Empowering Tunisian School Students to Prevent Food and Zoonotic Diseases

المجلة: Epidemiology: Open Access

سنة النشر: 2018

تاريخ النشر: 2018-09-28

In Tunisia, Food and Zoonotic diseases are a real public health problem. Those diseases remain poorly known by the general public and remain a taboo subject for many families. Prevention and treatment measures are not always applied in everyday life. The democratization of health measures in developing countries, through access to healthcare and health promotion closer to young people, allows optimal management of epidemiological risks. In Tunisia, the introduction of health education in biological programs and textbooks aims at acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to prevent infectious risks. The perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of young Tunisians regarding infectious risks should be evaluated in order to optimize educational strategies. The present study aims to detect possible failures in health education as it is currently conducted in Tunisian school and to present a path of intervention to innovate preventive measures against Food and Zoonotic diseases. This is a quantitative prospective study, by questionnaire, which included 261 Tunisian school students from different educational levels and residents in different regions of the country. The results based on the analysis of the answers to the various questions reveal that Leishmaniasis is the penultimate position in the classification of infectious diseases feared by secondary school students questioned (2.6%), hydatid cyst as third (12.2%), salmonellosis fifth (10.3%), gastroenteritis ninth (2.6%), and listeriosis in the eleventh row (0.6%). The diseases declared as the most common in Tunisia differ from one region to another so the school students live in North Tunisia; Kef and Seliana recognize more Toxoplasmosis (55.5%), bird flu (50%) and rabies (44.5%). School students in Southern Tunisia report more rabies (73.2%), leishmaniasis (37.8%), bird flu (35.7%) as the most common animal-borne diseases in Tunisia. Regarding the modes of transmission of infectious diseases, the most feared secondary school students, the causes: food, animal, environmental and physical occupies the last ranks after blood and sex with respectively: (10.2%), (5.7 %), (5.7%) and (1.9%). Of the 100 preparatory school students interviewed about the origin of the water they drink daily; 24% mention drinking spring water, 12% filtered water, 16% tap water and 48% mineral water. 21% of them say there is a great risk of contracting an infectious disease by drinking uncontrolled water, 50% think the opposite and rate the risk as low or inexistent. Only 3.8% of secondary school students surveyed cited the regular washing of hands as a means of preventing infectious diseases. All of these results show that school students in general, do not really know those diseases, especially with regard to risks, treatments and prevention. The question on the knowledge of the three most common diseases in Tunisia that can be transmitted by contact with animals or insects seems to have been difficult to understand. The fact that a large proportion of school students did not answer the question, and, that another group, mentioned infectious diseases that are absent in Tunisia or not zoonotic, could reveal a lack of knowledge about infectious disease, related to animals. A curriculum analysis of recent textbooks of Life Sciences reveals a dominance of the biomedical model aimed at the transmission of information on certain infectious risks and prescribing preventive measures. The promotional model is almost absent. Indeed, empowerment and the development of psychosocial skills, which are essential to perceive and manage the risks of zoonotic infection, are not among the educational aims, hence the deficit observed in the school students results.