Prevalence and intensity of dental caries among school students in jeddah city

This survey was conducted on school children of the various educational stages in Jeddah city. The aim was to detect the caries experience of school pupils. A stratified random sample was taken from the various administrative districts of Jeddah. Stratification by age, educational stage and gender was done and random samples were drawn from the school lists of various stages. A total sample of 2400 students was surveyed, half males and half females, equally withdrawn from private and public schools of the various educational levels. The results revealed a low caries experience 2.5 among the 9-12 year old group, and moderate [DMFT =3.46 and 4.31] among the 13-15 and 16-18 year old groups respectively. The trend was therefore not decreasing. Females and governmental schools had higher DMFT levels in intermediate and high schools. Educational, preventive and therapeutic school dental programs are recommended

Relationship of pregnancy wastage and infant loss to fertility behavior in Saudi Arabia

Pregnancy wastage and infant loss of 179 eligible women km studied. They had 10% pregnancy wastage and 3.6% infant losses. The variables studied which had a significant effect on them were age of women, social class and number of living children. education of wife only produced a trend. Both pregnancy wastag |and infant loss produced significant rise in gravidity, live births and number of living children. There was no correlation between either pregnancy wastage or infant loss with the number of more wished children, nor did they increase the number of contraceptive users

Feeding patterns and growth of infants in Jeddah

Infants aged 9-10 months brought for measles vaccination were Investigated to assess their pattern of feeding and their growth. They totalled 347 and they were chosen from 8 health centres in Jeddah. The present mode of feeding was predominantly bottle fed [42.4%]. The modal age for those who stopped breast was 1 month, while 52.7%, were still exclusively breast fed or in fccabination. Maternal causes were responsible for 55% and infant causes for 35%. The modal age for introduction of semisolid food was the fourth month [31.4%]. The modal age of supplementation with artificial milk among those who were supplemented was since birth [15.9%]. Infants below Harvard's third percentile cons-tituted 16.4% of the total sample and they were found with all types of feeding except with exclusive breast or exclusive bottle Infants. All patterns of feeding will lead to growth faultering males and females and among Saudi and non-Saudi infants when seen at the age of 9 months

Relationship of family formation to fertility behavior in Saudi Arabia

Fertility pattern among 179 enligible women chosen from four primary care health centres in Jeddah were investigated. Significant effects to women's age, education and social class were observed. The effects of these factors on ideals of reproduction were assessed. Birth control practices were evaluated and only 27.9% were current users. It was concluded that fertility patterns and behaviour of Saudi women were high.