Assessment of Health Needs In Sharkia Governorate: pilot study

Anany, Ahmed; Elreffaey, , Sarah E. Y.; Aboserea, Mona Mostafa; Bahgat, Shereen; Abou ElSoad, Amany Rashad; Elnagar, Safaa; Ragab, Hosnia Mohamed; Elsharkawy, Ghada; Biomy, Marwa; Abdelsalam, Noha; E. Abdelsalam., Amira; Nofal, Hana; Salem, Ghada; El-Maghawry, Hala Ahmed; ElRafey, Dina Sameh; Abdelsalam, Samar; Elazazy, Esraa Ibrahim; Fawzy, Hebatallah M; Khorshed, Enjy; Abdallah, Asmaa; Samy, Mona; Ali, Rhagda; Lotfy, Lamia; Mohamed, Amal Elwan

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.360757.3843

Assessment of Health Needs In Sharkia Governorate: pilot study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Dean of faculty of medicine, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

² Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

³ head of community medicine and Public health department

⁴ family medicine department

⁵ community medicine department

⁶ occupational health ,Zagazig university

⁷ Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Zagazig University Egypt

⁸ community medicine department, zagazig faculty of medicine

⁹ Professor of public health and community medicine Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

¹⁰ community medicine department, faculty of medicine zagazig university

¹¹ Assistant Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

¹² Professor of Public health and community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig university

¹³ Family Medicine department ,faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig city, Egypt

¹⁴ Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

¹⁵ Assistant professor of community medicine

10.21608/zumj.2025.360757.3843

Abstract

Background: Sharkia governorate is one of the densely populated governorates with different health needs. They are suffering from both noncommunicable and communicable diseases and rising issues of reproductive health problems. The health needs assessment project aims to assess the most prevalent health problems and priority health needs of Sharkia Governorate inhabitants.

Methods: A pilot study of the health needs assessment project was carried out. A survey of 144 inhabitants was conducted during the medical campaign of Zagazig -Faculty of Medicine at Markaz Awlad Saqr, and also from Zagazig city. The Data Collection team included eight Public Health & Community Medicine Department members and eight Family Medicine Department members. Questionnaires were completed, and anthropometric and laboratory examinations were done. Questionnaires (household and individual questionnaires) were included to investigate common causes of morbidity and mortality in each age group and their satisfaction with provided health services.

Results: Half of the participants were of moderate social class. Gastrointestinal (GIT), respiratory & circulatory health problems were the most frequent health problems among the studied participants in present history (40.3%, 34%, and 30.6%, respectively). Two-thirds of the participants didn’t practice sports, and 13.2% were smokers. One-third of the participants have difficulty accessing health services mainly because of the high cost.

Conclusion: The pilot study of the Health Needs Assessment project in Sharkia Governorate revealed that many inhabitants suffered from chronic conditions. Targeted health interventions and improved accessibility to health services in Sharkia Governorate are necessary.

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