Knowledge, beliefs and practices of parents towards childhood vaccination in Najran City, Saudi Arabia

Background: vaccinations play an important role in protecting children against life threatening infections. During the past years, parents expressed concerns about the safety of routine vaccinations; resulting in noncompliance

Objective: this study aimed to assess the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of parents towards vaccinations and the effects on vaccination practice in Najran region

Methods: this is a cross sectional study was carried out by distributing questionnaire among the general public in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of the following sections: demographic profile, knowledge, beliefs, behaviors and open-ended questions regarding vaccination

Results: 668 parents were participated in this study; out of them 61.8% reported compliance with the vaccination schedule. Factors that were significantly associated with compliance included older age [p =0.001], high education [p = 0.022] and better knowledge of the benefits of immunization. The main concerns about vaccinations were fear of weakening the child's immunity and non-necessity of some vaccinations. Causes that prevented compliance with vaccinations were lack of knowledge about their benefits [48.1%], illness of the child at time of vaccination [13.5%], travel [9.6%] and fear of side effects [7.7%]. Sources of information that effectively changed parent's attitude included flyers [31.4%], social media [26.8%] and TV [25.9%]

Conclusion: most parents had an acceptable and good knowledge of the importance of vaccinations. However, fears and misconceptions resulted in non-compliance of a substantial percentage of the responders. Educational programs should address these causes of non-compliance and stress the importance of routine child vaccinations to improve knowledge, beliefs and attitude of parents

Correlation of ultrasound and mammography to histopathology results in breast cancer. a one year study at King Khalid Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To compare the ultrasound and mammography results to histopathology reports of breast cancer cases presented in King Khalid hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia, 2016

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional analytic study was performed on 105 patients with breast lumps, who were referred to breast clinic King Khalid hospital Najran, during 2016. The patients' information was recorded using a checklist, which included name, code, age, ultrasonography, and mammography results and pathology reports. The results of ultrasonography and mammography were compared with histopathology. The results were analyzed on SPSS [version 16]

Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.3 [ +/- 5] years. Our results showed that in histopathology reports, in [30/105] patients i.e. 28.6% were malignant, 26 patients [24.8% ] biopsy revealed benign disease. Examination with mammogram revealed that, 33/105 i.e. [31.4%] were malignant and 40 cases [38.1%] had benign disease. On ultrasound examination, 21/105 [20%] were malignant and 43[40.1%] had benign disease. The mammography sensitivity was 76.6% and ultrasound sensitivity was 60%. Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System [BIRADS] by mammogram revealed the categories as follows; category 0 in 21.9%, 2in 11.4%, 3 in 31.4, 4 in 5.7%], 4a in 6.7%, 4b in 4.8%, 4c in1.9%, 5 in 8.6% in 6 in 4.8% and unclear in 2.9% of cases. Retro areolar area was involved in 24.8%, Upper Outer Quadrant in 45.7%, Upper Inner Quadrant in 3.8%, Lower Outer Quadrant in 4.8%, Lower Inner Quadrant in 8.6%, Diffuse involvement in 9.5% and unable to pick in 2.9%. By mammogram, the calcification found revealed 15.2% of examined patients had malignant lesions. Findings of lymph nodes examination by mammogram revealed 5.7% of the examined patients had malignant lesions. Significant difference [P<0.05] regarding the age group was found in pathology and mammogram results

Conclusion: This study showed that mammography is the preferred diagnostic tool in screening early breast cancer patients aged above than 40 years with a higher sensitivity; the results are near to open biopsy. For the younger age group the use of ultrasonography in cases with high breast density is promising

MRI enhancement as a predicator of uterine fibroid volume reduction after embolism

Aim of the Study: To evaluate the response of necrotic fibroids to UAE and to identify whether pre-UAE enhancement or other factors are predictors of fibroid shrinkage

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective review of all women who underwent UAE for symptomatic fibroids from January 2013 till July 2017, who experienced a follow-up MRI 5-6 months after UAE were included. There were 54 fibroids [37 non-enhancing and 17 enhancing] among 24 women with a mean age of 56 [range 40-59] years. All fibroids were assessed for size, position, enhancement on subtraction images, and Apparent Diffusion Constant [ADC]

Results: Enhancing fibroids had an average decrease in diameter by 23 +/- 6%, not significantly different compared to that non-enhancing fibroids which decreased by 19 +/- 3% [p=0.491]. Multiple linear regression with percent change in fibroid diameter as the dependent variable and patient age, fibroid position, and preUAE fibroid diameter, enhancement, and ADC as independent variables, showed that ADC [p<0.005] and pre-UAE diameter [p<0.005] were the only significant independent variables

Conclusion: Pre-UAE size and ADC, but not contrast enhancement, predicted fibroid diameter reduction. Enhancing and non-enhancing fibroids had similar size reduction after UAE. Non-enhancement should not be considered a contraindication to UAE