The Effect of Implementing A Heuristic Program Based on Studying the Awareness and Practices of A Sample of Individuals, in the Central District of Alexandria, About Foods that Affect the Immune System

This study aimed primarily at the preparation and implementation and the study of the impact of a heuristic program aimed to improve awareness of the immune system and ways to strengthen it.  Personnel interviews were conducted for the data collection related to the study of this research. A random sample of (195) male and female participants was selected from the district of central Alexandria to determine the indicative needs on which the program is built and the experimental sample in the applied study included (18) female subjects. The data was then downloaded and statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program (SPSSV23), and conducted the following statistical transactions: percentages; arithmetic average; standard deviation; "T" test; "P" test; Pearson correlation coefficient; regression multiple function; and the results of the study resulted in the following:
-  The vast majority of respondents (57.9% and 23.01%) had a moderate and weak level of consciousness, respectively, and only 19% had a good level of awareness.
-  The proportion of respondents with moderate and weak practices was 67.2% and 13.8% respectively, and only 19% had good practices related to eating foods that boost the body 's immunity and being cautious in eating food that weakens the immunity.
-  The presence of significant differences in score related to the participants’ awareness of the importance of the immune system, where females and those with children in the family and workers scored higher.
-    The presence of significant variation in the level of practice of eating/consuming foods affecting the body immunity system, to the benefit of those with monthly income of Egyptian Pounds (L.E) 2,000 and less than L.E. 3000 pounds.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
-  The existence of significant correlational relationship between the awareness about the importance of the immune system of the body and the awareness of the foods that affect the immune system and eating these foods.
- Age, place of residence, educational level, employment status, and the presence of children in the family are among the factors that affect awareness of the importance of the immune system and the foods affecting it.
-  Gender and employment status are among the most important factors affecting the respondents’ practices in consuming and eating foods that affect the body’s immunity.
-   The level of good awareness of the importance of the body's immune system and the foods affecting it increased by 61.11% after implementing the program, compared to 16.67% before implementing the program.
-  There are statistically significant differences between the pre and post application in awareness and eating foods that affect the body's immunity at a probability level of 0.01.
- The percentage of learning gained from the program increased by 40.34% as it relates to awareness of the importance of the immune system and by 66.89% related to the learning gained about the foods affecting it and eating these foods.