ABSTRACT
The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertension and associated risk factors among young adult females in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of about one-third of female students enrolled in 4 colleges of the University of Dammam. They were screened for high blood pressure and associated cardiovascular risk factors by an interview questionnaire. Weight and height, waist and hip and blood pressure measurements and random blood glucose testing were done. The results revealed that 13.5% of the 370 students were prehypertensive. The most prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases was physical inactivity (53.2%), followed by overweight/obesity (29.1%); 16.3% of prehypertensive students had 3 or more risk factors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight/ obesity was the strongest predictor of prehypertension. Our study indicates a need for routine blood pressure measurements and risk assessment in young adult females in Saudi Arabia.
Subject(s)
Prehypertension/epidemiology , Adult , Blood Glucose , Blood Pressure , Body Weights and Measures , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diet , Female , Humans , Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Saudi Arabia , Smoking/epidemiology , Socioeconomic Factors , Students , Universities , Young AdultABSTRACT
The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertension and associated risk factors among young adult females in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of about one-third of female students enrolled in 4 colleges of the University of Dammam. They were screened for high blood pressure and associated cardiovascular risk factors by an interview questionnaire. Weight and height, waist and hip and blood pressure measurements and random blood glucose testing were done. The results revealed that 13.5% of the 370 students were prehypertensive. The most prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases was physical inactivity [53.2%], followed by overweight/obesity [29.1%]; 16.3% of prehypertensive students had 3 or more risk factors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight/ obesity was the strongest predictor of prehypertension. Our study indicates a need for routine blood pressure measurements and risk assessment in young adult females in Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Health Education (HE) is vital to each of the seven other central ele-ments of Public Health Care (PHC). HE must be carefully planned and implemented. A crucial part of HE is planning, production and placement of effective HE posters. OBJECTIVE: Assess the quality of health education posters in Al-Khobar PHC centers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a sample of 138 HE posters in three PHC centers in Al-Khobar was conducted. The quality of posters in relation to set criteria was measured using a data sheet and scoring system developed by the investigator. RESULTS: The health education subjects displayed were among the common health problems in Saudi Arabia in 134 (97.1 %) of the posters.More than one-third (34.8%) had been displayed for more than one year. In 74 (53.6%) of the posters, the source of scientific information was unknown. The assessment showed that 109 (79%) posters were of optimal quality. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the health education posters in PHC centers in Al-Khobar were relatively satisfactory, though they did not fulfill some of the required criteria. Health education posters should be included in the assessment of health education programs in primary health care centers.
ABSTRACT
The compliance of hypertensive patients and patients' knowledge and misconceptions about hypertension were investigated in a cross-sectional study of all hypertensive patients [190] attending four primary health care centres in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The mean age was 49.9 +/- 11.7 years. The overall compliance rate was 34.2%; the rate was lower in those aged < 55 years than older patients [26.2% versus 48.5%; P < 0.001]. It was also lower among educated than illiterate patients [30.4% and 38.1% respectively; P < 0.001]. About 44% of patients thought that they should stop drug treatment once they achieved blood pressure control and 66.3% believed that emotional stress was the most important etiological factor in hypertension. The findings indicate that there is a clear need for health education of hypertensive patients
