Self-Medication Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Rational and responsible self-medication (SM) is an essential core element for better health outcomes. It is influenced mainly by the level and adequacy of knowledge, attitude, and appropriateness of practice (KAP) towards SM. The present study explored the level and adequacy of KAP among residents of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A convenient snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit the study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Six hundred and eleven participants completed the questionnaire. Residents with good knowledge, positive attitude, and proper practice were 43.7%, 33.1%, and 90.0%, respectively. The level of KAP was significantly influenced by the participant's occupation, age, gender, nationality, marital status, presence of chronic disease, and COVID-19 infection status. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores observed were 5.11 (SD = 1.27), 22.28 (SD = 2.6) and 5.20 (SD = 1.29), respectively. Pearson correlation and scattered plot matrix analysis revealed a significant positive weak correlation among KAP, indicating that residents with good knowledge possess better attitude (r = 0.142, p < 0.001) and follow the proper practice (r = 0.256, p < 0.001) towards SM. Multivariate linear regression revealed a significant (p < 0.001) negative (ß = -0.059) influence of occupation, family members working in the health sector (p = 0.046, ß= -0.426), Body Mass Index (p = 0.019, ß = -0.049), and physical activity (p = 0.018, ß = -0.292) on the overall KAP score. Understanding the residents' level of KAP towards SM would enable the health care system to identify the gap and develop a mechanism to educate the people and make them knowledgeable about SM and self-care.

Clean hands, safe care: how knowledge, attitude, and practice impact hand hygiene among nurses in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Healthcare-acquired infections are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for a medical or surgical condition and can occur in all care facilities. Hospital-acquired infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance can be reduced by implementing proper preventive measures, including hand hygiene. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward hand hygiene guidelines in Najran city, determine compliance levels, identify factors contributing to non-compliance, and provide recommendations for interventions to improve hand hygiene practices and reduce healthcare-associated infections risk. Subject and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in the selected government hospitals in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the targeted nurses using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and marital status. The questionnaire had 25 items to measure knowledge, 10 to measure attitude, 6 to measure practices, and 4 to measure the impact of COVID-19 on hand hygiene practices. Results: Among the 386 nurses recruited, 88.3% were females, and 25.6% were aged between 31 to 35 years old. Overall, good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice levels were found in 42.5, 48.4, and 94%, respectively. The common factor influencing hand hygiene practice was the prevention of cross-infection (88.1%). The total knowledge score mean was 18 ± 3.4 (highest possible score: 25). The total attitude score mean was 37.5 ± 6.1 (highest possible score: 50). The total practice score mean was 26.9 ± 2.8 (highest possible score: 30). A higher score indicates higher KAP of hand hygiene. Factors associated with increased KAP were being older in age (Z = 6.446; p < 0.001), gender female (Z = 9.869; p < 0.001), being a Filipino nurse (H = 117.8; p < 0.001), working in a surgery department (H = 28.37; p < 0.001), having more than 10 years of experience (Z = 6.903; p < 0.001), living in shared accommodation (H = 87.22; p < 0.001), having associated chronic disease (Z = 4.495; p < 0.001), and receiving formal training in hand hygiene (Z = 2.381; p = 0.017). There was a positive highly statistically significant correlation between knowledge score and attitude score (r = 0.556), between knowledge score and practices score (r = 0.303), and between attitude score and practices score (r = 0.481). Conclusion: In light of the results, we can say that the nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practice in regards to hand hygiene were deemed acceptable. We noticed that female nurses who were older and had more experience, as well as those who had received formal hand hygiene training, displayed better KAP compared to their counterparts. Moreover, we found a significant and positive correlation between the scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to establish the extent of KAP concerning hand hygiene.

Parental Willingness for COVID-19 Vaccination among Children Aged 5 to 11 Years in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To manage the COVID-19 outbreak, the WHO recommends adult and child vaccination. Vaccine skepticism has been a major worldwide health concern for decades, and the situation is worsening. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate parental willingness to vaccinate their children (aged 5 to 11 years) against COVID-19 and to describe its relationship with attitude, barriers, facilitators, and sources of knowledge regarding the vaccine. Methods: From February to March 2022, a community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken among the parents of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. We employed a convenient sampling procedure to gather the required sample. Using the Raosoft sample size calculator, a minimum sample size of 385 was determined based on a 95% confidence level, a 5% margin of error, and a 5% precision level. The data were analyzed using version 26 of SPSS. A p-value less than 0.05 was judged statistically significant. The Chi-square test and likelihood ratio were utilized to describe the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, driving factors, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy associated factors were identified using multivariate binary logistic regression. A total of 528 replies were received. The majority of respondents were mothers (77.7%), aged 26 to 40 years (67.8%), married (91.5%), Saudi nationals (96.2%), college graduates (70.6%), with a monthly family income of more than SAR 10,000 (46.4%), non-healthcare professionals (84.7%), employed in the government sector (33.7%), with three children (23.3%), and children aged 5 to 11 years (88.7%). A little more than half of the parents (55.7%) exhibited considerable vaccination hesitancy. About 16.28% of parents were willing to vaccinate their children as soon as possible, compared to 38.44% who had no interest whatsoever in vaccination. A greater proportion of mothers and unemployed parents were unwilling to vaccinate their children. Parents with a higher monthly income (above SAR 10,000), who worked as healthcare professionals, and whose children suffered from chronic conditions were significantly more ready to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Parents who were aware of anti-vaccination campaigns and who vaccinated their children with required childhood vaccines were also much more likely to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Most parents (66.9%) obtained information on COVID-19 via the Saudi Ministry of Health website, followed by social media (48.1%). The vaccine's novelty and the dearth of reliable information about its safety (65%) and insufficient information about its effectiveness (36.2%) were the primary reasons for not vaccinating children against COVID-19, whereas preventing children from contracting COVID-19 (55.9%) and government mandate (38.8%) were the primary reasons for vaccinating children against COVID-19. Conclusions: There was significant parental hesitancy to immunize their children against COVID-19. To involve and educate parents, multi-component interventions must be developed and implemented.

Lifestyle habits among Najran University students, Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Unhealthy lifestyles have been linked to increased cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. University students have been reported to adopt unhealthy lifestyles and undesirable eating choices. Objectives: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of healthy eating habits; determine the prevalence of physical activity habits; to estimate the smoking habits among male health sciences college students at Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The present questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study (convenient sample) was carried out among undergraduate male students enrolled in the health sciences colleges at Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia, from 1st May to 31st May, 2019. Around 500 students were recruited and were requested to answer a self-administered questionnaire about eating habits, physical activity, and tobacco smoking habits. Descriptive results were summarized in percentage and frequency. Cross tabulation using chi-square test was performed to measure the impact of demographic variable on eating pattern, physical activity and smoking behavior. Pearson's correlation was done using two tailed tests to determine the type of relationship between different variables. The SPSS (version 26) was used to perform statistical analysis. Results: A total of 454 complete responses from the male students from Najran University were obtained. The majority (74%) were aged 21 years and above, unmarried (94.9%), had healthy BMI (47.4%), and suffered mild (41.4%) to moderate (32.4%) levels of stress during the previous month. The study findings showed a low daily frequency of consumption of vegetables and fruits. There was a low prevalence of daily consumption of vegetables (16%) and fruits (9%). More than 10% of all students reported no consumption of fruits and vegetables. Students who felt severely stressed during the previous month were significantly not eating any vegetables (p = 0.022) and fruits (p < 0.001), and had high salt intake (p = 0.045). Married participants had a significantly (p = 0.03) higher servings of vegetables per day. Furthermore, 32.15% of participants were not practicing 30 min of physical activity 5 days per week. The study showed a low prevalence (47.57%) of physical activity among the participants. However, none of the participants' variables were significantly associated with routine physical activity. In addition, the study showed a relatively high prevalence of smoking (25.77%) among Najran university male students. The participants' age (p 0.01), overall health (p = 0.02) and level of stress (p = 0.001) experienced during the last month were significantly associated with the length of exposure to secondhand smoke. Whereas, smoking any kind of tobacco daily (25.77%) was significantly (p = 0.005) related to the age of participants. A high number of participants aged 21 years and above (52.72%) were significantly (p = 0.019) exposed to secondhand smoke. Conclusion: To conclude, the study findings showed a low daily frequency of consumption of vegetables and fruits, a relatively high prevalence of smoking and a low level of awareness regarding the health risks of smoking; and a large number of participants were physically inactive among male university students. Intervention programs in university students should concentrate on improving nutrition attitudes and knowledge toward good diet, tobacco-smoking cessation strategies, and structured intervention programs to encourage physical activity. However, these interventions should be pilot-tested for feasibility and acceptability before implementation.

Prevalence, Predictors and Point of View Toward Self-Medication Among Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Irrational Self-Medication (SM) practice leads to incorrect diagnosis and is a risk factor for disease exacerbation and serious health consequences. Hence Responsible SM is vital for better health outcomes. In the present community-based study we explored the SM practice during the last 3 months, frequency, outcome, medications used, reasons influencing SM, source of the drug, and information. Data were analyzed using SPSS; chi-square test was performed to indicate significance, Odds ratio, Pearson correlation, univariant and multivariant regression analysis were performed to find out factors and predictors of SM. A total of 611 residents completed the survey. SM was practiced by 52.9% of participants during the last 3 months, with a frequency of one to two times. Headache (64.8%), pain (35.4%), fever/flu (31.4%), cold & cough (21.9%) and dysmenorrhea (20.9%) were illnesses managed using pain killers (75.9%), multivitamins (25.5%), anti-pyretic (24.7%) and herbal medicines (18.5%). Minor illness (67.9%), earlier experience (33.9%) and shortness of time to attend healthcare facilities (18.8%) were the reasons for practicing SM. Distance to healthcare and routine physical activity have significantly influenced the SM practice. Residents stated that inappropriate SM would lead to negative outcomes, including drug side effects (70%), Interaction (34.2%), poor treatment outcome (32.6%) and return of symptoms (26.5%). Interestingly, two-thirds of participants (68.9%) have recommended SM in case of minor illnesses only, 85.3% of respondents have expressed their desire to learn more about appropriate SM, and 76.6% are willing to return their leftover or unused medications to drug take-back centers.

Prevalence, Perception, and Practice, and Attitudes Towards Self-Medication Among Undergraduate Medical Students of Najran University, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication (SM) is a customary practice around the globe. Appropriate SM comes with many advantages, yet irrational SM is a concern and could lead to adverse drug events and poor health outcomes. METHODS: This college-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2021 among Najran University undergraduate medical students to investigate the prevalence and practice of, and attitudes towards SM. Data were collected using a bilingual self-administered online questionnaire, which was categorized into sections, such as socio-demographic details, attitude towards SM, and practice of SM during the last six months, along with students' opinions and suggestions regarding SM. The three-item scale was used to assess the students' attitude. IBM SPSS was used to perform the cross-tabulation, chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 205 undergraduate medical students (58.6%) responded to the survey. The overall prevalence of SM was 60%, of which 25% used antibiotics as SM drugs. Headache (65.9%), fever (30.2%), cold/flu (31.2%), and gastric acidity (28.3%) were common illnesses for which SM was sought, using analgesics and NSAIDs (52.7%), antipyretics (13.7%), and antacid (12.7%) medications. Among the reasons for SM, the illness being minor and quick relief were frequently reported. To rationalize and improve the practice of SM, about half (48.3%) of the students suggested spreading awareness and education regarding the implications of SM and dispensing the medications with prescriptions (46.8%). CONCLUSION: Overall, the attitude towards SM was satisfactory. The prevalence of SM during the last six months was 60%, and antibiotics were used by 25% of students. A significant negative correlation was observed between attitudes towards and practice of SM. Although medical students of Najran University displayed responsible behavior towards SM, efforts should be made to educate them about the adverse consequences of SM, especially with antibiotics.

The psychological and emotional impact of coronavirus disease on COVID-19 patients in Najran Province, Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a significant mental health crisis and caused a widening economic crisis, growing financial loss, and numerous uncertainties. This pandemic brought alarming implications and overall increased risk for psychiatric illness. This study explores the psychological impact experienced by patients who tested positive from coronavirus in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND METHODS: This exploratory analysis included 210 COVID-19 positive patients. The study was conducted during a six-month period starting from March to September 2020, in two tertiary government hospitals in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Samples were selected using purposive sampling; survey questionnaire and face-to-face interview to collect the data. Statistical data were calculated using IBM SPSS v. 2.0 to compute the following statistical formulas: percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test of independence. RESULTS: The findings of this study revealed that the majority of COVID-19 positive patients were middle-aged adults (n=98 or 46.7%), male (n=178 or 84.8%), and were non-Saudi nationals (n=132 or 62.9%). It was found out that COVID-19 patients experienced bothersome behaviour at a very high level (x̅=2.63±0.6734). Meanwhile, depression (x̅=2.51±0.7070), worry (x̅=2.23±0.8811), and anxiety (x̅=2.21±0.8719) was only at a high level. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the majority of participants had high levels of depression, anxiety and bothersome behaviours. However, demographic characteristics like age, sex, and nationality were not significantly related to coronavirus patients' psychological health problems. Assessments and interventions for psychosocial concerns, integration of mental health considerations, and treatment for severe psychosocial consequences must be administered in COVID-19 care facilities.

The Effect of Educational Program for New Mothers about Infant Abdominal Massage and Foot Reflexology for Decreasing Colic at Najran City.

As part of an emerging movement in complementary therapy, the practice of infant foot reflexology and abdominal massage is gaining widespread acceptance as a therapeutic approach to the relief of infantile colic. The objective of the current research is to offer an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practice amongst new mothers in relation to infant massage and reflexology. Specifically, the intention is to apply any insights gained to the establishment of appropriate educational programmes in line with the requirements of new mothers. This is to be achieved through the appraisal of any perceived improvements in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of new mothers following the completion of any programme. A quasi-experimental design is adopted in this research and applied in the setting of the outpatient clinic at the University Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample, comprising sixty-two new mothers, all of whom have infants ranging in age from one month to four months. All the infants experience colic. The first instrument employed in this research comprises a structured interview wherein interviewees are presented with a two-part sheet. Section one is devoted to the obtaining of socio-demographic data regarding the mothers and the infants, whilst section two consists of a questionnaire devoted to gauging the level of knowledge of new mothers. The second research instrument is an observation checklist aimed at evaluating the practical skills of new mothers, whereas the third research tool employed in this study is a Likert scale which judges the attitudes of new mothers toward foot reflexology and abdominal massage. The findings of the research reveal that most new mothers demonstrated improvements to their attitudes, knowledge, and practice following the programme. Specifically, there was found to be statistically significant correlation between the age, educational level, and work experience of new mothers and their scores for attitudes, knowledge, and practices. Hence, it was possible to conclude that educational programmes for new mothers can augment their knowledge, refine their practices and improve their attitudes in respect of abdominal massage and foot reflexology as a means of treating colic in infants. Thus, the authors recommend that educational programmes constitute a significant means by which abdominal massage and foot reflexology can be promoted as a therapy for the treatment of colic.

Health Status and Functional Abilities of Elderly Males Visiting Primary Health-care Centers in Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: There is an aging population all over the world, and Saudi Arabia is no exception to it. An aging population poses several challenges to the health-care sector. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the health status and functional abilities of elderly people visiting primary health-care centers in Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved elderly male Saudi nationals aged 60 years and above. Self-rated health status and body pain, functional status, geriatric review of systems and other relevant data were collected using the Geriatric Health Questionnaire of University of Iowa Health Care. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The study results showed that the overall health of the elderly was either good (32.9%) or very good (32.3%), while 14.2% rated their health as excellent. Only two participants rated their health as poor. The majority of the participants (71.9%) had no functional impairment in basic activities of daily living (BADL), while 35.7% had mild impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Only two participants were found to have total impairment in IADL. The most common limitation among BADL was walking (21.1%) and among IADL was doing the housework. The notable factors associated with functional impairment in BADL and IADL were old age (≥80 years), poor eyesight, memory impairment, having trouble with control of bladder, falls twice or more, taking more than two medications, being sexually inactive, poor self-rated general health and severe self-rated body pain (all P<0.05) among others. CONCLUSION: The majority of the elderly were able to perform BADL independently and to a lesser extent IADL; the overall self-rated general health was found to be good. Further research in the field of geriatrics is warranted to plan better, and design public health policies and provide efficient care to elderly patients.

Corrigendum to "Prevalence and Predictors of Obesity and Overweight among Adults Visiting Primary Care Settings in the Southwestern Region, Saudi Arabia".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/8073057.].

Frequency and factors associated with inadequate self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Based on diabetes self-management questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and factors associated with inadequate self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 355 patients with T2DM, using multistage cluster sampling, attending the Najran University Hospital and Primary health care centres in Najran, Saudi Arabia, from January to May 2019. The assessment of self-care behaviors was conducted using the 16-item diabetes self-management questionnaire (DSMQ). Results: The majority (85.1%) of the patients with T2DM were uncontrolled, 42% were obese, and 5.9% were morbidly obese. Based on DSMQ criteria, the majority of patients (90.1%) had poor self-care behaviors. The mean sum of DSMQ was 5.04 out of 10. Among the DSMQ subscales, health care use had the highest mean score of 5.63, followed by glucose management with a score of 5.12, while dietary control had lower mean scores of 4.96 and physical activity had 4.46, all were inadequate. Being married (OR=2.178, p=0.035) and having DM for more than 5 years (OR=2.711, p less than 0.006) were the significant independent factors associated with poor self-care behavior. CONCLUSION: Inadequate self-care behavior is widely prevalent in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. All the DSMQ subscales were poorly managed by most of the diabetic patients. Furthermore, being married and having a longer DM duration are the significant independent factors associated with poor self-care behaviors.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Psycho-social Consequences During the Social Distancing Period Among Najran City Population.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a global pandemic that endanger the health and enforced social distancing for the whole world. Social distancing may generate stress, anxiety, and depression. Understanding the psychosocial consequences of COVID19 during social distancing may help decision-makers to take suitable decisions that help in increasing awareness. Evaluate the psychosocial consequences of COVID-19 pandemic during the social distancing period and explore the relationship between social media use and psychological stress during COVID-19 outbreak among Najran city population. Research design is descriptive correlational research design. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A snowball sampling technique, was used to recruit participants live in Najran city during the COVID-19 pandemic (1508 participant). RESULTS: A statistically significant differences (P<0.05) are observed between Saudi and non-Saudi participants in all social aspects assessed except for time spent on social media. In addition, a high mean of depression, stress, and anxiety subscale scores are observed in non-Saudi compared to the Saudi participants with statistically significant differences (p=0.000). As well as high DASS-21 total scores in non-Saudi compared to the Saudi participants. Also, there are positive statistically significant correlations (≤0.05) between participants' time spent in social media and their depression, stress, anxiety, and total DASS scores during the COVID-19 outbreak. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study indicate that COVID-19 pandemic generates stress, anxiety and depression among Najran population especially, non-Saudi. This poor psychological condition is exaggerated with prolonged social media use. COVID-19 also has negative impact on social wellbeing and use of social media cannot replace direct contact with friends. The current study results may be utilized to formulate interventions that enhance psychosocial health and resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of Saudi women in Najran area towards breastfeeding during Ramadan.

Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant feeding practice. Many factors influence breastfeeding, one of them is breastfeeding during Ramadan. The objective of our study was to assess the knowledge, practice and attitude of breastfeeding among women in Najran area, Saudi Arabia, during month of Ramadan. A descriptive cross-sectional study using a self-administrated questionnaire was conducted in June and July 2015. A total of 169 breastfeeding women visiting the Gynaecology Clinic in Najran University hospital were randomly recruited. Data were analysed by using statistical package for the social sciences version 20.0. Of the study population, 89.9% showed that they used to practice breastfeeding while fasting during the day in Ramadan (p < 0.000). The study revealed that 85.8% of the participants thought that fasting does not alter the nutritional composition of breast milk (p < 0.001). Around 80.5% stated that fasting has no adverse effect on the volume of breast milk and the growth of the infants during Ramadan. Women's knowledge about fasting and infant growth was significantly associated with their age and education (p value =0.011 and 0.031, respectively). To conclude, majority of the study population had positive knowledge, attitude and practice towards breastfeeding in Ramadan. Breastfeeding promotion programs are needed to provide support and advice to women regarding breastfeeding during Ramadan and improve their breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge which will lead to short- and long-term benefits for infants, mothers, environment, economy and the entire society.

Awareness of Breast Cancer among Female Students and Faculty from Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading malignancy among women in Najran, Saudi Arabia. However, not much is known about the public's awareness of BC. This study explored the general knowledge, early warning signs, risk factors and sources of information about BC. METHODS: An online-based, anonymous, self-rating, cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted from March-2019 to April-2019. Three-hundred female students and/or faculty from College of Medicine, Najran University (Najran, Saudi Arabia) participated in the study. RESULTS: A total of 232 students (77.3%) and 68 faculty (22.7%) responded to the survey. Our study showed that nulliparity (83.8%) and early menarche before 12 years of age (29.7%) were the most pertinent obstetric risk factors of BC. Conversely, lack of physical activity (66.3%) and family history of BC (18%) were the most substantial non-obstetric risk factors of BC. According to pre-defined criteria, while the surveyed research subjects demonstrated 'good' general knowledge about BC (75.3%), they unfavorably exhibited 'poor' knowledge about the warning signs of BC (94.3%). The predictors of 'good' overall knowledge (general knowledge plus signs knowledge about BC) included age, marital status, educational level and family history (all p<0.05, two-tailed Chi-square test). Apart from the campaigns' educational materials (43%), the top source of knowledge about BC was internet (33%), whereas the lowest ones were healthcare professionals (11.3%) and training workshops (7.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed research subjects harbored risk factors of BC and demonstrated 'poor' knowledge about the warning early signs of BC. We call for rigorous and well-crafted educational campaigns geared toward improving the awareness level of BC among women in Najran province.

Cardiac Arrhythmia in a Patient with Sickle Cell Anemia and Falciparum Malaria Treated with Intravenous Artesunate.

Treatment of severe malaria with artemisinin derivatives in patients with comorbid conditions such as sickle cell anemia must be considered with precaution. We report here a case of possibly undocumented ventricular arrhythmia in a sickle cell anemia patient diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and treated with intravenous artesunate. The patient suffered from wide complex tachycardia after treatment with artesunate 170 mg (2.4 mg/kg) i.v. bolus, tachycardia was managed with amiodarone (150 mg i.v. for 10 minutes). Electrocardiographic abnormalities, including QT prolongation, are common in patients with sickle cell anemia. The mortality rate in sickle cell anemia patients due to cardiovascular and pulmonary complications remains high. The probability of precipitation of ventricular arrhythmias may increase in patients with sickle cell anemia, diagnosed with malaria and treated with artemisinin derivatives.

Perception of premarital counseling among King Khalid University students.

BACKGROUND: Genetic blood disorders are common in Arab countries which are related to many physical and mental disorders. Premarital counseling has been one of the strongest ways to prevent hereditary diseases. It can provide a capability to intervene according to identified risks, vaccinations, genetic consulting, nutrition, consulting regarding behavior and advice regarding contraception. This study aimed to assess university students' knowledge, attitude and practice of pre-marital counseling (PMC) in king Khalid University. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University in Abha city from May to August 2018. The students were selected using two stage stratified cluster sampling technique (medical and non-medical). A total sample of 541 students were included. A structured questionnaire with close-ended questions was designed by the authors following an extensive review of the literature on knowledge, practice, and attitude of premarital screening program. The questionnaire was developed in English and then translated to Arabic by experts at the College of Medicine. RESULTS: A total sample of 541students were involved with ages ranged from 18 years to 27 years old and 56.6% at medical colleges. Exact 73.4% of the students were aware of PMC and 95.2% reported its importance. 96.5% of the students reported their welling to do PMC on marriage and 72.1% see that it should be mandatory. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly three out of each four students had good awareness level regarding PMC. Most of the students have a positive attitude towards PMS and their readiness to adopt the counseling before marriage.

Prevalence and Predictors of Obesity and Overweight among Adults Visiting Primary Care Settings in the Southwestern Region, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is becoming the most common health problem of the 21st century, as it will contribute significantly to the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in developing countries. The main objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults attending primary health care settings, southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The studied population was composed of adults visiting primary health care centres in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of 1681 adult patients. Obesity and overweight were defined according to the WHO standards. Statistical analysis was conducted using the statistical package SPSS 17.0. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of obesity and overweight in the studied population. RESULTS: Data on body mass index (BMI) measurement was recorded for 1649 out of 1681 participants (98.1%). The overall mean weight was 74.1 ± 15.81 kg; and that for men was 77.69 ± 16.14 kg vs. 69.37 ± 14.02 kg for women with significant statistical difference of p < 0.001. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was, respectively, 38.3% and 27.6%. Smoking was not significantly associated with obesity, whereas hypertension was significantly associated with obesity. The risk of overweight or obesity significantly increased from the highest to the lowest monthly income; it passed from 1.67 CI 95% = [1.24-2.25] within the category 5000-7000 SAR to 2.23 CI 95% = [1.71-2.90] within the category less than 5000 SAR. CONCLUSION: Our study showed high prevalence of overweight and obesity which should be considered as a public health concern to be followed by specific interventions at the community level with multidisciplinary activities starting from childhood as a primordial prevention program.