Prevalence and demographic features of miscarriages at Baljurashi general hospital, Albaha, Saudi Arabia

Background: Miscarriage is the most common encountered complication of pregnancy. It may be repeated for 3 or more times; a condition called habitual or recurrent miscarriage

Aim: To determine the incidence of miscarriage at Baljurashi General Hospital, the demographic characteristics of women who presented with miscarriage, and the most common gestational age at time of miscarriage

Materials and methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to women attending Baljurashi General Hospital who suffer from miscarriage

Results: The incidence of miscarriage was 10%. Ninety-two women responded to the questionnaire. Most of the respondents aged more than 25 years, had no job, and were in their first trimester. Half of the respondents had secondary education. Approximately one tenth suffered from repeated miscarriages

Conclusion: The incidence of miscarriage, among patients presenting to Baljurashi hospital, was comparable to those reported in other regions. However, the percentage of repeated abortion is high and these cases were not appropriately investigated. We recommend for the introduction of routine genetic studies into the work up of repeated miscarriages

Awareness about causes and risk factors of cataract among general population of Albaha City

Background: cataract is the most common age-related eye disease and the most treatable cause of visual impairment and blindness in adults

Aim of the work: this study aimed to assess the knowledge of Saudi population in Albaha city about cataract and its risk factors

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study that included a representative sample of 756 adults of the Saudi population in this region. Participants answered self-administered questionnaires consisting of items assessing the knowledge about cataract

Results: nearly half of the studed sample [50.5%] misunderstood cataract as a white membrane growing over the eye, while only 222 [29.4%] realized it as an increase in eye lens opacity. Moreover, this study revealed clearly deficient knowledge in the studied population about risk factors of cataract. High percent of participants [84%] did not know that incidence of cataract increases with positive family history. Likewise, there was a shortage of knowledge about the relationship of malnutrition, dehydration, hypertension and ultraviolet rays and the development of cataract. Fortunately, considerable numbers considered cataract as an age related disease and recognized that diabetes mellitus is a major precipitating factor to cataract

Conclusion: Saudi population in Albaha city had poor knowledge towards cataract and its risk factors. Hence, great efforts should be made to increase the knowledge and awareness of the general public about this disease