ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) use and Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (WTS) are reported to be a growing strain of tobacco epidemic among youth in the Arab world. Therefore, we aimed to: (1) estimate the regional prevalence of ENDS use among youth in 7 Arab countries and, (2) to explore the bidirectional relationship between ENDS use and WTS among Arab adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed data from the World Health Organization Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS 2014-2018) of 18,536 schoolchildren aged 12-16 from Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, and Yemen. The weighted prevalence was calculated to generate nationally representative estimates. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between ENDS use and WTS. RESULTS: The pooled weighted prevalence of ENDS use was 9.5%. Higher odds of ENDS use were significantly associated with WTS (AOR: 5.26, 95%CI: 4.28-6.46), smoking conventional cigarettes (AOR: 1.54, 95%CI: 1.23-1.94) and first tobacco use prior to the age of 12 (AOR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.14-1.72). Females and children who were taught in school the dangers of tobacco had less odds of using ENDS. CONCLUSION: WTS was associated with increased odds of ENDS use by >5 folds, and vice versa. Tobacco consumption at age younger than 12 years was associated with higher odds of ENDS use, but less odds of WTS. Females and those who were taught in school the dangers of tobacco were less likely to report ENDS use.
ABSTRACT
Background: A hemodialysis is a treatment option for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). However, patients undergoing hemodialysis three times per week may experience psychological issues, including depression, which are highly prevalent among patients. Unfortunately, most healthcare providers fail to recognize the symptoms of depression due to overlap with other somatic symptoms; thus, depression remains undiagnosed. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression and compare the differences in depression symptoms according to the sociodemographic characteristics of patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2021 with a total of 132 hemodialysis patients using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II) questionnaire to examine symptoms of depression at multiple health centers in Jeddah. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Post-hoc analysis using Conover tests were used for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of depression in hemodialysis patients was 51.5%, 25.8%, 15.9%, and 6.8%, with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively. Depression exhibited a significant relationship with sex (p = 0.034), with females showing higher mean depression scores than males. Additionally, depression scores were statistically significant across the different levels of education (p = 0.019), with the mean depression scores significantly highest in subjects who had only primary school level of education. Furthermore, the most common symptoms associated with depression were found to be energy loss and fatigue. Conclusion: Depression prevalence was relatively low among patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis, and a loss of energy and fatigue were the most common symptoms correlated with depression. Hence, nurses should be trained on how to routinely use psychological screening scales among patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis.
