Khat Chewing Habits in the Population of the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia: Prevalence and Associated Factors.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Mahfouz MS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4527766 | biostudies-other | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:BackgroundDental caries is a preventable childhood disease, but public health efforts are hampered due to limited information on associated factors in vulnerable populations. Our study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of dental caries and identifying key associated factors in four major risk domains, including socioeconomic factors, child oral health behavior and practices, child feeding practices, and dietary habits among primary school children in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 578 male Saudi primary school children, aged 6-8 years, from 12 primary schools in five different regions of Riyadh. Children were clinically screened to detect carious lesions in primary teeth according to World Health Organization's criteria. Structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on social and individual factors from the parents. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of associated factors for dental caries were computed using logistic regression models; key factors were identified by systematic selection process that accounted for multicollinearity and bias correction.ResultsDental caries was prevalent among children (83%, 95% confidence interval 79.7-86.0%). Individual factors, including irregular brushing, late adoption of brushing habit, consulting dentist for symptomatic treatment, lack of breast feeding, sleeping with a bottle in mouth, habit of snacking between meals, low consumption of fruits, and frequent consumption of soft drinks and flavored milk, were predominantly associated with dental caries in children, instead of socioeconomic factors (p < 0.05, adjusted R-square 80%).ConclusionDental caries were prevalent in school children, and individual factors were predominantly associated with the disease.
| S-EPMC6267843 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Internet addiction is an increasing problem among university students worldwide. The Internet provides numerous educational advantages, but too much Internet use can lead to unfavorable outcomes such as social isolation and poor academic achievement. The objectives of the present study were to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction and its associated factors among female students at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. METHODS:A cross-sectional study using a multistage proportionate sampling technique was done. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the female students of Jouf University during face-to-face interviews with them. This questionnaire consisted of two parts; the first is a structured one for identifying sociodemographic features, and the second is Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) to assess Internet use among the students. RESULTS:According to the YIAT scale of Internet addiction, 48.6% of the students were scored to be average Internet users. However, 49.5% and 1.9% of the students had moderate and severe addictions, respectively. The vast majority of students (94.6%) preferred home to access the Internet. Communication was the main purpose of using the Internet as it was reported by 47.3% of the students. The majority of the students (79.5%) utilized mobile phones for Internet access while other devices such as a laptop, tablets and desktop were used by 15.4%, 4.3%, and 3.2% of the students, respectively. More than half of the students (54.6%) used the Internet for an average of more than 4?h every day. Also, more than half (51.4%) used it in the evening being the dominant time of using the Internet. Internet addiction was significantly higher among students with high father education, students who sleep 6?h or less, students who utilize the Internet for entertainment purposes, and students who utilize the Internet mainly in the midnight. CONCLUSION:Nearly half of female students at Jouf University have moderate or severe Internet addiction. The significant predictors of Internet addiction were sleeping hours ??6, midnight as the dominant time for utilizing the Internet and using the Internet for entertainment purposes.
| S-EPMC7366308 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe purpose was to measure the prevalence and related risk factors of low back pain (LBP) among health care workers (HCWs) at different levels of health care in southwestern Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among HCWs providing primary, secondary and tertiary health care services in the Aseer region, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire collected data regarding having LBP in the past 12 months, socio-demographics, work conditions and history of chronic diseases, regular physical exercise and overexertional back trauma. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsOut of 740 participants, the overall prevalence of LBP in the past 12 months amounted to73.9% (95% CI: 70.7-77.0). The prevalence of LBP with neurological symptoms reached 50.0%. The prevalence of LBP necessitating medications and or physiotherapy was 40.5%, while the prevalence of LBP requiring medical consultation was 20%. Using multivariable logistic regression, the following risk factors were identified: working in secondary and tertiary hospitals (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI:1.01-1.76), increased BMI (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI:1.01-3.65), and positive history of overexertional back trauma (aOR = 11.52, 95% CI:4.14-32.08). On the other hand, practising regular physical exercise was a significant protective factor (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.89).ConclusionsLBP is a common problem among HCWs. Many preventable risk factors have been identified, including exertional back trauma, increased BMI and lack of regular physical exercise. Occupational health and safety programmes to build ergonomically safe working conditions and encourage regular physical exercise are needed.
| S-EPMC6368758 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, and its prevalence and trends vary among populations. Saudi Arabia shows a greater rise in prevalence than many other countries. We aimed to study the association between several chronic disorders, demographic, and lifestyle factors with increased body mass index (BMI) in the adult population of Jeddah.MethodsData were obtained from a door-to-door cross sectional study. A three-stage stratified cluster sampling technique was adopted. Individuals in selected households agreeing to participate were interviewed to complete a predesigned questionnaire covering demographic and lifestyle variables, medical history, and family history of chronic diseases. This was followed by anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. A random capillary plasma glucose (RPG) was measured, followed by further testing using fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to verify whether participants were normal, diabetic, or prediabetic. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding factors.ResultsA total of 1419 individuals were included in the study: 667 men and 752 women. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35.1 and 34.8%, respectively, in men, and 30.1% and 35.6%, respectively, in women. Both overweight and obesity increased in prevalence to 60 years of age, and decreased in the oldest age group in both sexes. After adjusting for age, risk of obesity in men was increased with having a postgraduate degree [odds ratio (OR), 95%CI = 2.48, 1.1-5.61] and decreased with increased physical activity (OR, 95%CI = 0.49, 0.26-0.91). Risk of prediabetes and diabetes was increased in obese women (OR, 95%CI = 2.94, 1.34-6.44, and 3.61, 1.58-8.26 respectively), that of hypertension in obese men (OR, 95%CI =2.62, 1.41-4.87), and that of dyslipidemia in both sexes (OR, 95%CI = 2.60, 1.40-4.83 in men, and 2.0, 1.01-3.85 in women). A family history of dyslipidemia was associated with reduced risk of obesity among women (OR, 95%CI = 0.33, 0.12-0.92), whereas, in people with above normal weight (BMI ⩾25), there was increased risks of prediabetes, diabetes, and dyslipidemia among women (OR, 95%CI = 2.50, 1.21-5.17; 3.20, 1.45-7.03, and 1.88, 1.02-3.49, respectively ), and of hypertension among men (OR, 95%CI = 1.80, 1.00-3.23).ConclusionsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Saudi population remain high, indicating ineffectiveness or lack of preventive measures. Risk of prediabetes, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension increased with increasing BMI, with some sex differences in these associations.
| S-EPMC6769201 | biostudies-literature
Project description:COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and refusal vary across countries and among different socio-demographic groups. This study investigates hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccine and the associated factors in the rural-community-dominated Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study through an online questionnaire was conducted from February to April 2021 to investigate the extent of vaccine hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccine and the associated factors in the Jazan region. A Chi-squared test and post hoc analysis were conducted to analyze the statistical significance of the association between variables. Of the 569 participants who completed the online questionnaire, the majority were males (81.5%) and had a university education (72.6%). Of the participants, more than one-third (36.9%) were hesitant to vaccinate. Concern about adverse side effects following vaccination was the most reported reason for vaccine hesitancy (42.6%), followed by beliefs that the vaccine was unsafe or ineffective (15.5%). The data analysis revealed that people who lived in cities in Jazan Province or those who did not have a family history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. It is more important than ever to develop and implement community-based strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, especially in rural areas.
| S-EPMC10706323 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: COVID-19 virus has been reported as a pandemic in March 2020 by the WHO. Having a balanced and healthy diet routine can help boost the immune system, which is essential in fighting viruses. Public Health officials enforced lockdown for residents resulting in dietary habits change to combat sudden changes. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating habits, quality and quantity of food intake among adults in Saudi Arabia. SPSS version 24 was used to analyze the data. Comparison between general dietary habits before and during COVID-19 for ordinal variables was performed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, while McNemar test was performed for nominal variables. The paired samples t-test was used to compare the total scores for food quality and quantity before and during COVID-19 periods. Results: 2706 adults residing in Riyadh completed the survey. The majority (85.6%) of the respondents reported eating homecooked meals on a daily basis during COVID-19 as compared to 35.6% before (p<0.001). The mean score for the quality of food intake was slightly higher (p=0.002) before the COVID-19 period (16.46±2.84) as compared to the during period (16.39±2.79). The quantity of food mean score was higher (p<0.001) during the COVID-19 period (15.70±2.66) as compared to the before period (14.62±2.71). Conclusion: Dietary habits have changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic among Riyadh residents. Although some good habits increased, the quality and the quantity of the food was compromised. Public Health officials must focus on increased awareness on healthy eating during pandemics to avoid negative consequences. Future research is recommended to better understand the change in dietary habits during pandemics using a detailed food frequency questionnaire. Significance for public health Since pandemics come unannounced affecting public’s safety, it is important to understand the changes that occur in a community. This study focuses on the dietary habits’ changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus has been a threatening matter on a global level. It is tremendously crucial to consider various aspects of human health during pandemics including dietary habits, food quality and quantity as such factors play an important role in improving the immune system and overall health. Increasing the community’s awareness on the importance of healthy food intake during COVID-19 pandemic is extremely necessary. Public health’s role is to understand people’s reactions during pandemics and establish guidelines to improve health and prevent diseases. Dietary habits change during COVID-19 is a major health threat that needs immediate Public Health Officials’ attention. Maximizing awareness about healthy eating habits during quarantine requires attention to improve the overall health of the population.
| S-EPMC7512943 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionResearch exploring factors that may influence the diet quality of adolescents in the Middle East are very limited. We aimed to investigate factors associated with diet quality and the weight status of adolescents in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study that included 638 healthy adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years who were randomly recruited from 16 private and public middle- and high-schools located in two Saudi cities (Jeddah and Madinah). All participants were given an envelope for parents to collect socioeconomic data. Diet quality and anthropometric data of adolescents were evaluated at school.ResultsMedian diet quality score was higher among males compared to female adolescents (10.00 (8.00-11.00) vs. 9.00 (8.00-10.0), respectively, p = 0.018). Median diet quality score was significantly higher among adolescents residing in Jeddah compared to adolescents residing in Madinah (10.00 (9.00-11.0) vs. 9.00 (8.00-10.0), respectively, p = 0.002). Stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that city of residence (B = -0.53, SE = 0.16 [95% CI: -0.83 to -0.22]), and child's sex (B = -0.34, SE = 0.15 [95% CI: -0.64 to -0.05]) were associated with diet quality scores of adolescents in Saudi Arabia.DiscussionFuture longitudinal research should be directed to further investigate other possible factors influencing the diet quality of adolescents and individuals from other age groups in Saudi Arabia.
| S-EPMC11371742 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Saudi Arabia (SA) has a reported obesity prevalence greater than the global average. Here, we systematically review firstly the prevalence and associated factors (59 studies) and secondly the pharmacological, lifestyle, and surgical interventions for obesity (body mass index, >30 kg/m2 ) in SA (29 studies) between December 2020 and March 2021 in PubMed, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane. Peer-reviewed articles in Arabic and English on human adults (aged >18 years) were searched. Among the eight largest studies with sample sizes over 10,000 people, the maximum-reported obesity prevalence was 35.6%, with notable variations in gender and geographic region. Diet, specifically the move towards Western diet and heavy consumption of sugary beverages, and high levels of inactivity are major contributing factors to obesity. The reported obesity-risk polymorphisms are not specific. Bariatric surgery is underrepresented, and in general, there is a lack of nationally coordinated studies on weight loss interventions. In particular, the systematic review did not find a body of research on psychological interventions. There is no trial data for the use of GLP-1 analogs in SA, despite their widespread use. These findings can help policymakers, and practitioners prioritize future research efforts to reduce obesity prevalence in SA.
| S-EPMC9287009 | biostudies-literature
Project description:(1) Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults are associated with drug-related problems, adverse health consequences, repeated hospital admissions and a higher risk of mortality. In Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries, studies of PIMs among large cohorts of older adults are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PIMs, trends and associated factors among outpatient older adults in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Over three years (2017-2019), data on 23,417 people (≥65 years) were retrieved from outpatient clinics in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PIMs were assessed using the 2019 Beers Criteria. Covariates included sex, age, nationality, number of dispensed medications, and number of diagnoses. A generalized estimating equation model was used to assess trends and factors associated with PIMs. (3) Results: The prevalence of PIMs was high and varied between 57.2% and 63.6% over the study years. Compared with 2017, the prevalence of PIMs increased significantly, with adjusted odds ratios (OR) (95% confidence interval (95% CI)) of 1.23 (1.18-1.29) and 1.15 (1.10-1.21) for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Factors associated with being prescribed PIMs included ≥5 dispensed medications (OR_adjusted = 23.91, 95% CI = 21.47-26.64) and ≥5 diagnoses (OR_adjusted = 3.20, 95% CI = 2.88-3.56). Compared with females, males had a lower risk of being prescribed PIMs (OR_adjusted = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.85-0.94); (4) Conclusions: PIMs were common with an increasing trend among older adults in Saudi Arabia. A higher number of dispensed medications, increased number of diagnoses and female sex were associated with being prescribed PIMs. Recommendations on how to optimize prescriptions and implement de-prescribing strategies are urgently needed.
| S-EPMC10379671 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSelf-medication with OTC or prescription drugs is widespread, may impair health, and leads to microbial resistance. Self-medication treats symptoms without a prescription. Self-medication is common among students across disciplines. Thus, this study evaluates medical and non-medical students' self-medication prevalence, knowledge, and variables.Methods352 people completed a verified 25-item online questionnaire from September 5 to November 17, 2021. Self-medication and demographic characteristics such as gender, professional college, and family income were examined using a chi-square test of independence.Results210 (59.6 %) participants were from the College of Medicine, and 142 (40.34 %) were from other professional health colleges. Health professional students self-medicated 55.9 %. This research found substantial connections between self-medication knowledge, gender, and family income. With a p-value of 0.0001, 32 % of women agreed that self-medication is safe, compared to 15.8 % of men. Female students were more likely than boys (61.9 % vs 38.1 %, p-value = 0.0291) to self-medicate as their initial therapy. Family income was also related to self-medication; 69.6 % of low-income pupils self-medicated to reduce doctor visits, p-value = 0.0477.ConclusionStudents of all majors self-medicate. Medical students were more informed about generic drug safety and administration. There were substantial unfavorable sentiments regarding self-medication, highlighting the need for educational health activities to raise student understanding of its risks.
| S-EPMC10589874 | biostudies-literature