ABSTRACT
Background: Burn injuries are one of the most traumatizing and damaging wounds. Causing considerable mortality, prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement, disability, often with resulting social stigma, rejection, psychiatric issues in long run. We aimed to assess the knowledge of general population on first aid and surgical intervention in different degrees of burns and psychiatric aspect on patients; so, the results of this study could help to manage burn injuries. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in shopping malls of Hail KSA. Data was collected from the audience who attended Health Awareness Campaign on Burns between 15th of December 2019 and 15th of January 2020. Data was fed and analysed by using SPSS version 23. Results: Forty-seven Percent of the respondents have received information on burns. Half of respondents had history of either oneself being affected by burn incident or any one of their close relatives. Out of 273 burn cases, 65 had complications later. Almost 29% developed psychiatric issues after that incidence but just 8% consulted Psychiatrist. Only 2% were familiar with the surgical aspect for healing of second-degree burn. Conclusion: Knowledge of respondents on the burn’s issues is very scanty as revealed in our results. 15%-24% 0f respondents did not know what to do in 1-3 degree of burns that is very alarming. Just 16% knew that there is any role of Plastic Surgery in 3rd degree burns. Twenty-nine Percent had suffered from psychiatric problems after burn incident but just 8% consulted any Psychiatric and those were ones who had total monthly income ≥ 10,000 Saudi Riyals (p ≤ 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of implementing Health Awareness Campaigns in community and in institutions that could minimize burn incidents and psychiatric issues in general population.
ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis C virus is a blood-borne RNA virus. An estimated 3 to 4 million people worldwide are infected with acute Hepatitis C each year. Methods: Among Saudi people the overall anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 7.3% (1124/15323) of the examined individuals in one of the latest study done. The incidence of Hepatitis C is increasing every year, the main reason found by previous similar studies is lack of awareness in public regarding its different modes of transmission. Hence this study was planned where the researchers did a cross sectional survey on 402 students of Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of present study was to assess the knowledge of female students of PNU, about modes of transmission and different signs and symptoms our Hepatitis C. A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was adopted. A large percentage answered that Hepatitis C spreads by droplet and sharing tooth brushes. Results: Piercing body parts and tattooing are not sources of Hepatitis C as answered by 58% and 57% respectively. Sharing needles and blades at barber’s shop (68%), and through sexual contact (68%) were marked as risk factors for Hepatitis C infection transmission. Just 49.5% knew that it can spread by unscreened blood transfusion. Most of the students did not know that there is change in stool color (142/402=35%), urine color (138/402=34%), abdominal pain (170/402=42.5%) and fever (167/402=42%) as symptoms of Hepatitis C. Majority of the respondents did not have any idea (No 261/402=65%,) that health workers are at risk of contracting Hepatitis C. When cross tabulation was done by applying Chi-square test, as a test of significance, it was found that, respondents did not have the correct knowledge regarding the different modes of spread of disease with the exception of sharing needles and blades (p=0.008) and sexual contact (0.05). Conclusion: Hence it is concluded that there is lack of knowledge regarding hepatitis C virus infection transmission and its prevention among the students.