Awareness, Attitude and Health Practices Among Parents of Children with Ear Infection: A National Study in Saudi Arabia (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Otitis media (OM) is a very common childhood problem. It is inflammation of the middle ear usually caused by viral or bacterial infection. Otitis media is a main cause of antibiotic use in children. The primary treatment for acute otitis media (AOM) is watchful waiting: 80% of cases resolve without intervention. Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific region, and Africa have the highest prevalence of OM. Prevalence studies on OM are scant in Saudi Arabia. Only a few studies have been conducted in some cities. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and health-seeking practices of parents with regard to OM. METHODS A national study was conducted September 19, 2018–October 9, 2018 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an electronic online questionnaire. It was culturally adopted, validated, and translated into Arabic. Items on the questionnaire included demographics, knowledge, attitude, and health practices about ear infection among parents of children <5 years old. The calculated representative sample size of the Saudi population was 9600 individuals (95% confidence interval and 1% margin of error). The aim was for 10,000 responses. Stratified sampling was used with each administrative area considered as independent strata. Statistical analysis was conducted using Excel software (Microsoft, Redmond, WA). Data were coded, grouped, arranged, and cleaned. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 23.0; Armonk, NY: IBM Corporation) was used for data analysis. RESULTS This study included 10,004 participants. Most were females. The mean age was 37.93 years (standard deviation, 10.20 years). Overall, 81.9% of parents were knowledgeable about ear infection. Parents who were knowledgeable about ear infections were significantly older (P = .005), female (P < .001), had a higher education level (P < .001), were married (P < .001), had a monthly income of 10,000–20,000 Saudi riyals (P < .001), and lived in the Al-Baha region (P < .001). The scores of 90.0% of parents indicated they had a good attitude about ear infection; and 58.6% of parents believed that ignorance is why children do not go to a healthcare facility for ear infection treatment. Parents with positive overall health practices represent 81.2%. Parents with good health practices were significantly associated with female sex (P = .009), higher education level (P < .001), being married (P < .001), a monthly income of 5000–1000 Saudi riyals (SR; P < .001), and living in the Al-Baha region (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Knowledge, attitude, and health-seeking practices in Saudi Arabia were overall adequate. However, more integrated educational materials are needed for the general population. The development of a broad national awareness program, especially in low socioeconomic areas, could significantly contribute to the early detection and management of OM.

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Results of a national study on the awareness of and attitudes toward acute otitis media (AOM) among clinicians and the estimated direct healthcare costs in Turkey (TR-AOM Study)

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.02.004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 77 (5) ◽

pp. 756-761 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ener Cagri Dinleyici ◽

Fatih Yuksel ◽

Zeynel Abidin Yargic ◽

Murat Unalacak ◽

Ilhami Unluoglu

Keyword(s):

Otitis Media ◽

Healthcare Costs ◽

Acute Otitis Media ◽

National Study ◽

Direct Healthcare Costs

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Acute otitis media

InnovAiT Education and inspiration for general practice ◽

10.1177/1755738018766193 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 305-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John F Curran ◽

Hannah L Cornwall ◽

Miklos Perenyei ◽

Tobias Moorhouse

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Secondary Care ◽

Acute Otitis Media ◽

Common Condition ◽

Ear Infection ◽

Diagnosis And Management ◽

Middle Ear Infection ◽

Patient Morbidity

Middle ear infection, or acute otitis media (AOM), is a common condition encountered in primary care. Unfortunately, the diagnosis and sequelae of AOM can be overlooked, leading to significant patient morbidity. This article aims to raise awareness of AOM and highlights the relevant anatomy, epidemiology and aetiology. We discuss prevention, diagnosis and management of AOM in primary care, the recognition of complications and when to refer to secondary care.

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Experimental Acute Otitis Media Due to Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: Comparison of High and Low Azithromycin Doses with Placebo

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.46.7.2194-2199.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 46 (7) ◽

pp. 2194-2199 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Franz E. Babl ◽

Stephen I. Pelton ◽

Zhong Li

Keyword(s):

Haemophilus Influenzae ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Clinical Success ◽

Acute Otitis Media ◽

Published Data ◽

Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae ◽

Ear Infection ◽

Dependent Effect ◽

Middle Ear Infection

ABSTRACT Treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) with azithromycin results in apparent clinical success, but tympanocentesis performed 4 to 6 days after initiation of therapy in children with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) recovered from initial middle ear cultures demonstrates persistence of infection in more than 50% of episodes. We sought to determine the effect of azithromycin at different doses on the density of middle ear infection due to NTHI to provide additional understanding of this dichotomy between clinical and microbiologic outcome measures in AOM. In a chinchilla model of experimental otitis media (EOM), animals treated with placebo were compared to animals receiving a single daily dose 30 or 120 mg of azithromycin per kg of body weight per day for 5 days. Microbiologic outcome was assessed by obtaining quantitative cultures from the middle ear during a 5-day course and for 1 week following therapy. Azithromycin concentrations were measured to ascertain whether a concentration-dependent effect was present. Azithromycin at 30 and 120 mg/kg/day demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on the quantitative assessment of middle ear infection due to NTHI. A 30-mg/kg dose of azithromycin daily resulted in levels in serum and areas under the serum concentration-time curve at 24 h comparable to published data obtained with children given azithromycin at 5 to 10 mg/kg in multiday regimens. Increased doses of azithromycin (120 mg/kg) achieved 2.5- to 4-fold-higher levels in serum and 3- to 6-fold-higher total levels and levels in extracellular middle ear fluid as well as more rapid reduction in bacterial density and a greater proportion of middle ears with complete sterilization than either placebo or the 30-mg/kg/day regimen.

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Awareness about breastfeeding benefits among mothers in maternity and children hospital of Buraidah Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20184558 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (11) ◽

pp. 4696

Author(s):

Asim A. Alsoqeer ◽

Ahmad M. Alahmad

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Education Level ◽

Saudi Women ◽

Breastfeeding Knowledge ◽

Systemic Infections ◽

Insufficient Knowledge

Background: Breastfeeding is a healthy, safe and economical way of providing proper and wholistic nutrition to the newborn. It reduces incidences of infection in the respiratory, gastrointestinal systems and systemic infections. As will as it deepens the bond between the mother and her child, and also it offers a number of health benefits to the mother. Despite these profound advantages, it remains under-fulfilled and sometimes missed altogether. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge about breastfeeding benefits among mothers.Methods: The study involved 397 mothers visiting general pediatrics clinics at Maternity and Children Hospital of Buraidah, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia from 18 March 2018 to 18 April 2018.Results: Most of the surveyed women were Saudi (93.5%), (46.1%) university or higher education level. (12.3%) rely on breastfeeding as the only source. (23.9%) were breastfeeding for more than 6 months. Some questions had as high correct answers as (49.2%), while others had as low correct answers as (20.4%), university or higher education level have the highest correct answers (73%). (61%) discussed the benefits of breastfeeding with a doctor and the correct answers were (72%) while (39%) didn't discuss and the correct answers were (65%).Conclusions: Analysis of the collected material on the surveyed women showed that Saudi women have insufficient knowledge about breastfeeding. Knowledge is improving after discussing with a doctor about breastfeeding benefits. Based on these results we highly recommend increasing the efforts to promote and endorse the benefits of breastfeeding by pediatricians and other health professionals.

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