scholarly journals Epidemiological trends of malaria in the Western regions of Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1332-1337
Author(s):  
Omar SO Amer ◽  
Mohamed I Waly ◽  
Izhar W Burhan ◽  
Esam S Al-Malki ◽  
Amor Smida ◽  
...  

Introduction: Saudi Arabia has successfully reduced malaria cases to be constrained largely in the western regions. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological trends of malaria infection in five western regions of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the epidemiological trends of malaria infection in the western regions, based on the published registry of the Saudi Ministry of Health, during the period from 2014 to 2017 using the appropriate statistical tools. Results: A total of 8925 confirmed cases of malaria were reported in the western regions during the period from 2014 to 2017 with the mean of 2231 malaria cases per year. The minimum (n = 1097) and maximum (n = 4075) number of cases were reported in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The highest (n = 5919, 66.3%) number of cases were reported from Jazan region, while lowest (n = 86, 1.0%) number of cases were reported from Al-Bahah region. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently reported species with 7485 (83.9%) cases, while Plasmodium vivax accounted 1386 (15.5%) cases. Plasmodium malariae and mixed infections were insignificant and accounted 0.5% (n = 48) and 0.1% (n = 6) cases respectively. In relation to malaria infection and age group, malaria was predominant in > 15 age group. The highest number of malaria cases in almost all years was observed from January until March and the lowest number was reported from May until July. Conclusions: Plasmodium falciparum was the most dominant species in this survey and Jazan was the most affected region.

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Sultan Alghadeer ◽  
Mohammed N. Al-Arifi

The awareness among Saudi people regarding the good and safe practice of drug disposal is fairly low. Community pharmacists’ potential toward drugs disposal directions and practice are not emphasized enough. Therefore, a cross sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the practice, awareness and beliefs of community pharmacists about disposal of unused drugs. Out of 360 subjects who participated in the study, more than 70% returned the unused drugs to the pharmaceutical distributors. Around 80% of the participants confirmed the risk of environmental damage due to the inappropriate disposal of drugs, and 87.5% of them held themselves responsible for preventing such risk. Approximately 85% of surveyed pharmacists believed community pharmacies to be an appropriate location for the collection of unused drugs. There was no significant association between the community pharmacists’ age group and years of practice as community pharmacists with either the awareness of unused medication disposal on environmental hazards, or the beliefs about the appropriate location for collecting unused drugs (p > 0.05). The awareness and proactive accountable responsibility, along with community pharmacists’ belief of appointing pharmacies to collect unused drugs, strongly support the institution of drug take-back programs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veena H. R. ◽  
Sribhargava Natesh ◽  
Sudhir Patil

Periodontal disease (PD), a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth, increases the risk of complications in diabetics. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of prolonged hyperglycaemia. There appears to be a similarity in the pathogenesis of DR and PD. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association, if any, between DR and PD, correlate the severity of DR with the severity of PD, and investigate the association between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine and periodontal variables. The periodontal status of 200 adult diabetic patients in the age group of 30–65 years with varying severity of DR was assessed. Evaluation of the severity of PD was assessed by recording clinical parameters. Haematological investigations including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum creatinine were estimated before the initiation of treatment for DR. A statistically significant association between the mean duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the severity of DR and PD was found. The severity of PD was directly correlated with the severity of DR. There was a significant association between the levels of HbA1c and serum creatinine and severity of DR and PD. There could be a plausible relationship between DR and PD. Further prospective studies on a larger population with longer follow-ups are required to ascertain whether PD and its severity directly affect the progression and severity of DR.


2012 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Saki ◽  
A Rafiei ◽  
S Nikakhlagh ◽  
N Amirrajab ◽  
S Saki

AbstractBackground:This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of otomycosis and aetiological agents in Khouzestan province, south-west Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study examined and cultured 881 swabs from suspected external otitis cases, collected from throughout Khouzestan province. Fungal agents were identified by slide culture and complementary tests when necessary.Results:The mean patient age was 37 years. The 20–39 year age group had the highest prevalence of otomycosis: 293 cases, comprising 162 (55.3 per cent) women and 131 (44.7 per cent) men. The seasonal distribution of cases was: summer, 44.7 per cent; autumn, 28.7 per cent; winter, 14.7 per cent; and spring, 11.9 per cent. The fungal agents isolated were Aspergillus niger (67.2 per cent), Aspergillus flavus (13 per cent), Candida albicans (11.6 per cent), Aspergillus fumigatus (6.2 per cent) and penicillium species (2 per cent).Conclusion:Fungal otomycosis is still one of the most important external ear diseases. In this study in south-west Iran, Aspergillus niger was the predominant aetiological agent. However, clinicians should be cautious of candidal otomycosis, which has a lower rate of incidence but is more prevalent among 20–39 year olds.


Author(s):  
Jovita Deepthy John ◽  
Vimala Damodaran ◽  
Shankar Radhakrishnan

Background: Thyroid disorders are 10 times more common in women than men.1 Menstrual disturbances usually accompany clinical alterations in thyroid function and every clinician would have encountered altered menstrual pattern among women suffering from either hypo or hyper thyroidism. A high serum prolactin level can distrurb the follicular maturation and corpus luteum function, and leads to inhibition of normal pulsatile secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone in hypothalamus resulting in anovulation. The aim of the study was to assess the thyroid and the prolactin levels among the women with abnormal uterine bleeding and to evaluate the association between them by comparing with normal females.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for a period of one year between Jan 2016 and December 2016 in our institution at the gynaecology OPD. Patients in the age group of 15 to 45 with the complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding and with the ultrasound findings showing normal uterus and ovary were included in the study. Hundred age and sex matched controls without any complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding in the age group of 15 – 45 years were also included in the study. Free T3, Free T4, TSH and prolactin estimation was done by chemiluminescent immunoassay for both the patients and the controls.Results: The mean TSH levels among the cases were much higher than that of the controls and the difference in the levels found to be statistically significant. Similarly, hyperprolactinemia was found in 18 cases when compared to 2 cases in controls and the mean prolactin levels were higher in cases. The serum prolactin levels and the serum TSH levels showed a perfect positive correlation which indicates that as the TSH level increases prolactin levels also increases with the R value >0.5.Conclusions: Early detection of hypothyroidism in such subjects saves the patient from recurrent curettage and at times hysterectomy. The financial implications of screening for prolactin/thyroid hormone abnormalities will have to be evaluated before a general recommendation can be made.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Author(s):  
W Nargis ◽  
BU Ahamed ◽  
S Zabeen ◽  
F Alam ◽  
MA Wahab ◽  
...  

Introduction: Nephropathies, as one of the multiple extrahepatic features of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, can occur in clinically improved HEV hepatitis patients which in majority of the cases remain clinically silent for a long period. By the time these are reported, patients have already developed renal insufficiency which may even lead to renal replacement therapy. Proteinuria, a simple test in practice, can be a useful tool for early detection of the underlying renal impairment. Objective: The aim of this study was to detect the presence of proteinuria and to evaluate the degree of proteinuria in HEV- hepatitis patients during post-icteric state. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 50 diagnosed patients of clinically improved HEV-hepatitis at the Department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with active cooperation of the Department of Hepatology, BSMMU, between July 2006 and June 2007. Cases were chosen carefully, to exclude the acute state of illness and the patients of HEV were selected during their third or fourth follow-up, in their post-icteric phase. The study subjects were grouped according to equal age ranges in group-I (18-26 year) and group-II (27-35 year). Depending on the level of spot urinary protein (mg/dl) the subjects were also categorized as having trace, mild and moderate proteinuria. Results: The mean age of HEV infected subjects was 24.72±2.59 years. The mean spot urinary protein in age group-II patients was raised compared to age group-I and the difference was highly significant (p<0.001). Moreover, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) of spot urinary protein of male and female. Majority of HEV patients (42%) presented with mild proteinuria and mostly (53.3%) was of age group-I. Conclusion: Spot urinary protein concentration should be checked in every HEV- hepatitis patient to detect the presence and level of proteinuria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jafmc.v7i2.10395 JAFMC 2011; 7(2): 37-39


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1399-1402
Author(s):  
H. J. Mahmood ◽  
R. H. Ibrahim ◽  
M. F. Abdulghani ◽  
Z. F. Al-Zaidy

Background and aim: The Objectives of the present study to determine the VV among people with different background occupations in the City of Mosul, Iraq. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was performed at Mosul Teaching Hospital between November 2019 and February 2020. Two hundred people who were physically examined represented different jobs in Iraqi society (Nurses, address, Policemen, and teachers). A physical examination was conducted of all participants who agreed to engage in this study. Results: The overall prevalence rate of VV among different occupational backgrounds in the City of Mosul is 19.5%. The study found that the percentage of men (50.5%) and women (49.5%). Most of the patient was beyond to age group (41-45) years and the mean age of the participants was (39.1+3.1). According to the BMI, the results indicated that most subjects belong to a class<30 (77%). Conclusions: The nurses will seek to prevent excessive extended occupational standing and using sitting or walking when appropriate. As a result, an improvement in clinical practice may reduce the incidence of vascular disease. Keywords: Varicose, Veins, Occupational


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1697
Author(s):  
Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
Abdulmohsen Khaled Almulhim ◽  
Faisal Ahmed Albalawi ◽  
Ziyad Muharib Alruwaili ◽  
Ola Ali Almajed ◽  
...  

Primary care physicians play a vital role in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) from the initial stages to the late stages. This questionnaire-based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and their correlation among 274 randomly selected primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia. Among the studied population, high knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores were observed in 21.5%, 15%, and 29.2% of the physicians, respectively. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher among the age group of less than 30 years (p = 0.031) and the female gender (p = 0.012). The attitude scores were significantly higher among the Saudi physicians (p = 0.027) and those with PHC work experience of less than five years (p < 0.001). Regarding the practices, a significant association was found among the age group of less than 30 years (p = 0.019) and Saudi physicians (p = 0.003). There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.739, p < 0.001) and attitude (r = 0.479, p = 0.007) with the practice scores. It is recommended that targeted continuous medical education, workshops, and seminars are conducted on the prevention and care of DR among primary care physicians. Furthermore, an exploratory multicenter study that involves primary care physicians belonging to all ministries and private sectors is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-61
Author(s):  
Mohammad Saiful Islam ◽  
Fahmida Akter ◽  
Shamima Parvin Lasker

A community based cross-sectional study was carried out by a self-structured questionnaire on 168 participants aged between 18 and 60 years at two arsenic prone area of Bangladesh to determine the association between extent of depression and socio-demographic as well as illness characteristics in arsenicosis population. The mean age ± SD was 42 ± 10.15 years. Female respondents were almost twice (63.1%) than the males (36.9%) in this study. Most of the respondents (94.0%) were shallow tube well water user. Among them most (80.0%) of the respondents were detected as arsenic contaminated water consumer over more than six months. Study estimated that almost half (44.3%) of the participants had suffered from mild to moderate depression in the moderate arsenicosis group. Less than quarter (20.8%) participants suffered severe depression in severe arsenicosis group. Quarter (26.7%) had mild arsenicosis with no depression. This difference was not significant. Gender had significant influence on proportion of level of depression. Females significantly suffered more from depressive symptoms than males. More than two third of the female respondents suffered from some kind of depressive symptoms; where less than one third of the males were suffered from depressive symptoms. Age has no significant relation with depression. Respondents who were 48 years and above age group had highest percentages of severe depressive symptoms (35.8%). This age group also suffered from highest percentage of mild to moderate depression (37.1%). Though most of the respondent (85.1) had no diabetes and hypertension. Respondents with physical illness suffered more from some sorts of depression than those without illness, but the result is not statistically significant. We understood that depression has health challenges in adult arsenicosis patients. Therefore, physicians should take account depression in their treatment management when deal with arsenicosis patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badrah S Alghamdi ◽  
Yasser AlAtawi ◽  
Fahad S. AlShehri ◽  
Haythum O. Tayeb ◽  
Hanin Abo Abo Taleb ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread to over 150 countries worldwide. Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Saudi Arabia, cases have continued to escalate exponentially. The COVID-19 outbreak has had a negative effect on mental health and well-being. The study aim was to investigate the effects of the strict national regulations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on the population’s mental health. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of Saudi residents. Participants completed an online questionnaire after 1 month of a nationwide 24-hour curfew. We measured psychological distress using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). We ran binary logistic regression analyses to detect variables that significantly predicted DASS-21 scores. Results The sample comprised 2252 Saudi residents. The DASS-21 score means and standard deviations for depression and anxiety for the whole sample (10.73 ± 10.29 and 6.98 ± 8.30, respectively) were in the range of mild depression and anxiety. In contrast, the mean DASS-21 stress score was within the normal range (11.97 ± 10.80). The mean stress score for healthcare workers was within normal range (13.70 ± 10.68), but was significantly higher than the mean score for the public (11.56 ± 10.89; P = .0006). Several variables (e.g. age, gender and history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases) were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 scores. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has created a psychological burden. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement emergency psychological interventions to reduce the negative psychosocial effects of the pandemic on public mental health.


Author(s):  
Eka R Gunardi

Objective: To obtain informations regarding the profile of contraceptive users in Raden Saleh Clinic, Jakarta. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2012, at Raden Saleh Clinic, Jakarta. The study population was the patient who came to Raden Saleh Clinic from 2008 until 2011. Results: The mean age of the contraception users was 34.06 and the mean of their husband’s age was 38.91 years old. Most of the patients were graduated from senior high school (43.2%) and university (37.9%). More than half of the patients (55.2%) were not working and more than a half of their husband (53.2%) were private employee. Almost all (92.6%) of the patient were married. Most of the patient (38.8%) came with no prior contraception. After consultation, all patients had chosen their preferred contraceptive methods, namely IUD (61.4%), injectable contraception (20.9%), pill (13.7%), sterilization (3.4%), and implant (0.6%). Conclusion: Family planning reduces maternal mortality and the best method is different for each patient because of the difference in their own condition and the consideration of the cost and benefit. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 1-4:179-82] Keywords: contraception, contraceptive users profile


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