scholarly journals Characteristics of Attempted Suicide in the Middle East and North Africa Region: The Mediating Role of Arab Culture and Religion

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Arab Culture ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Suicidal Attempts ◽  
Arab Societies

The general lack of awareness of mental health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly within its Arab countries, accounts for limited mental health services and stigmatization of psychiatric conditions in the region. Suicide is a drastic consequence of mental health neglect. Suicidal attempts are one form of presentation to emergency departments (ED) in healthcare centers across the Arab countries in the MENA region. We collected data from various research studies in the region to narrate such presentations. This epidemiological country-by-country summary includes the characteristics of suicidal attempts in the Arab region, with a focus on methods, causes, and management of cases. The summary demonstrates that suicidal attempts in this part of the world share sociocultural and logistic grounds. The prominent archetypes of suicidal attempts are middle-aged Arab women ingesting poisonous substances secondary to familial or interpersonal stressors. We also link these presentations to the Arab culture and its associated beliefs, which at times can dictate privacy and stigmatization of mental health and suicide. Even though religion plays a role in mollifying suicidal attempts, it might exacerbate stigma regarding suicide among Arab societies. Lastly, we recommend management measures that enhance suicide risk detection in the ED and provide an ameliorated understanding of suicidal ideations and behaviors of patients in the Arab countries of the MENA region.

Dementia caregiving in the Middle East and North Africa: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
pp. 136346152110364
Author(s):  
Tanya Kane ◽  
Suzanne H. Hammad ◽  
Nazmul Islam ◽  
Noor Al-Wattary ◽  
Justin Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Burden Of Care ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Arab Muslim

Care for persons with dementia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is undertaken predominantly by family members, domestic workers, and private nurses within the home. Domestic caregivers possess different understandings and varying degrees of knowledge of dementia that are influenced by complex socio-cultural and religious factors. With much of the burden falling on the shoulders of “invisible” caregivers, the role and needs of these individuals require deeper scrutiny. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the empirical studies published on caring for persons with dementia in Arab countries of the MENA region. Using a systematic review technique, searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using database-specific terms associated with caregiving, dementia, aging, and the MENA region. To ensure local and regional research was captured, hand searches of regional journals, reference lists of included articles, and Arabic databases Al-Manhal and e-Marefa were also searched. No date restrictions were imposed. Twenty studies met inclusion criteria and the following themes were identified: caregiving experiences and the burden of care; barriers to caregiving; and caregiver recommendations to improve care. Results demonstrate that studies about informal caregivers and dementia within Arab-Muslim populations are underrepresented in the research. This review highlights the paucity of literature on service users’ experiences and underscores the need for future research specific to dementia care within the Arab-Islamic sociocultural context. These trajectories are especially pertinent given the unprecedented aging demographics of the MENA populations.

scholarly journals Trends, wealth inequalities and the role of the private sector in caesarean section in the Middle East and North Africa: A repeat cross-sectional analysis of population-based surveys

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259791
Author(s):  
Stephen J. McCall ◽  
Aline Semaan ◽  
Noon Altijani ◽  
Charles Opondo ◽  
Mohamed Abdel-Fattah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objective To examine trends and variations of caesarean section by economic status and type of healthcare facility in Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Methods Secondary data analysis of nationally representative household surveys conducted between 2008–2020 across nine Arab countries in the MENA region. The study population was women aged 15–49 years with a live birth in the two years preceding the survey. Temporal changes in the proportion of deliveries by caesarean section in each country were calculated using generalised linear models and presented as risk differences (RD) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Caesarean section was disaggregated by household wealth index and type of healthcare facility. Results Use of caesarean section ranged from 57.3% (95%CI:55.6–59.1%) in Egypt to 5.7% of births (95%CI:4.9–6.6%) in Yemen. Overall, the use of caesarean section has increased across the MENA region, except in Jordan, where there was no evidence of change (RD -2.3 (95%CI: -6.0 ‒1.4)). Across most countries, caesarean section use was highest in the richest quintile compared to the poorest quintile, for example, 42.8% (95%CI:38.0–47.6%) vs. 22.6% (95%CI:19.6–25.9%) in Iraq, respectively. Proportion of caesarean section was higher in private sector facilities compared to public sector: 21.8% (95%CI:18.2–25.9%) vs. 15.7% (95%CI:13.3–18.4%) in Yemen, respectively. Conclusion Variations in caesarean section exist within and between Arab countries, and it was more commonly used amongst the richest quintiles and in private healthcare facilities. The private sector has a prominent role in observed trends. Urgent policies and interventions are required to address non-medically indicated intervention.

scholarly journals Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Towards Patients with Mental Health Disorders Among Pharmacists in the MENA Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazan S Batarseh ◽  
Mariam Abukhalaf ◽  
Rula Marwan Fakhoury ◽  
Laith Alfalah ◽  
Mayyada Wazaify
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Patients

Abstract Background –Mental Health Literacy is necessary for pharmacists to provide proper care for mental health patients, however research which assesses mental health literacy among pharmacists in the Middle East and North Africa region is limited.Objective -Evaluate mental health literacy of pharmacists in the Middle East and North Africa region. Methods –An online survey was delivered via social media platforms to a sample of pharmacists Setting - Middle East and North Africa region community, hospital, clinical, and other pharmacy sectors.Main outcome measure -The survey assessed mental health literacy in terms of knowledge, attitude, and stigma in providing care to mental health patients.Results –A total of 372 pharmacists filled in the questionnaire, majority were female (71%) and under 29 years of age (78.7%). Half were community pharmacists. Majority of respondents recognized depression (93.3%), anxiety (63.7%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (68%). Almost 35% of pharmacists were unable to classify psychiatric medications. Analysis of pharmacists’ attitudes towards different interventions showed the following order of help seeking preference; psychiatrists (83.3%), spiritual activity (59.9%), family support (55.6%), friends support (53%), pharmacists support (40.6%), and social workers (39%). Conclusion –Although baseline knowledge of responding pharmacists regarding mental disorders was adequate, their advanced knowledge of multiple use of intervention was shallow. Stigma was noted in perceived dangerousness and recovery of mental health patients, social responsibility, and social distance.

scholarly journals Trends, wealth inequalities and the role of the private sector in caesarean section in the Middle East and North Africa: a repeat cross-sectional analysis of population-based surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen McCall ◽  
Aline T. Semaan ◽  
Noon Altijani ◽  
Charles Opondo ◽  
Mohamed Abdel-fattah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectiveTo examine trends and variations of caesarean section by economic status and type of healthcare facility in Arab countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA).MethodsSecondary data analysis of nationally representative household surveys across nine Arab countries in MENA. The study population was women aged 15-49 years with a live birth in the two years preceding the survey. Temporal changes in the use of caesarean section in each of the nine countries were calculated using generalised linear models and presented as risk differences(RD) with 95% confidence intervals(95%CI). Caesarean section was disaggregated against household wealth index and type of healthcare facility.ResultsUse of caesarean section ranged from 57.3% (95%CI:55.6–59.1%) in Egypt to 5.7% of births (95%CI:4.9–6.6%) in Yemen. Overall, the use of caesarean section has increased across the MENA region, except in Jordan, where there was no evidence of change (RD −2.3% (95%CI:-6.0–1.4%). Within all MENA countries, caesarean section use was highest in the richest quintile compared poorest quintile, for example, 43.8% (95%CI:38.0-47.6%) vs. 22.6% (95%CI:19.6-25.9%) in Iraq, respectively. Caesarean section was higher in private sector facilities compared to public sector: 21.8% (95%CI:18.2-25.9 %) vs. 15.7% (95%CI:13.3-18.4%) in Yemen, respectively.ConclusionVariations in caesarean section exist within and between Arab countries, and it was more commonly used amongst the richest quintiles and in private healthcare facilities. The private sector has a prominent role in the trends. Urgent policies and interventions are required to address non-medically indicated intervention.

scholarly journals Geriatric Mental Health and COVID-19: An Eye-Opener to the Situation of the Arab Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1058-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer El Hayek ◽  
Mohamad Ali Cheaito ◽  
Marwa Nofal ◽  
Doaa Abdelrahman ◽  
Ali Adra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Geriatric Mental Health

Transitions Within Queer North African Cinema

Screen Bodies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter S. Temple
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Film Festivals ◽  
Global Awareness ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
North African ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
African Cinema ◽  
Queer Cinema

In recent years, North African queer cinema has become increasingly visible both within and beyond Arabo-Orientale spaces. A number of critical factors have contributed to a global awareness of queer identities in contemporary Maghrebi cinema, including the dissemination of films through social media outlets and during international film festivals. Such tout contemporain representations of queer sexuality characterize a robust wave of films in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, inciting a new discourse on the condition of the marginalized traveler struggling to locate new forms of self and being—both at home and abroad.

scholarly journals Influence of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: a survey of 5896 individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abouzid ◽  
◽  
Dina M. El-Sherif ◽  
Nael Kamel Eltewacy ◽  
Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Party systems and ideological cleavages in the Middle East and North Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 135406881989429
Author(s):  
Abdullah Aydogan
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Mena Countries

Previous studies have contrasted the political party systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with those in more democratic countries, raising three important points: (1) the religious–secular dimension, rather than the economic or social left–right, explains the underlying political party competition; (2) left-wing politics is relatively weaker than right-wing politics; and (3) parties that are traditionally known as rightist take left-leaning positions on numerous issue dimensions, and vice versa. Even though this particular literature on party politics in the MENA has greatly improved our understanding of political dynamics in the region, these studies have either lacked quantitative evidence to support these points or their evidence was limited to single-country cases. This study aims to address this issue by analyzing original expert survey data of the ideological positions of political parties in the MENA region. Results show that in addition to the religious–secular dimension, the economic left–right divide and the pace of political reforms are highly important dimensions. The study also provides numerous examples showing that the policy stances of leftist and rightist parties are significantly reversed when MENA countries are compared with more developed democracies.

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