ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoids are defined as the symptomatic enlargement and distal displacement of the normal anal cushions. They can be either internal, external, or internoexternal, according to their position in relation to the dentate line. They can cause significant financial burdens and personal discomfort. However, the typical symptoms of hemorrhoids include bleeding, pain, skin irritation, fecal leakage, prolapse, mucus secretion, and developing a thrombosed hernia. Nonetheless, research has shown that individuals with and without hemorrhoids equally report these symptoms. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hemorrhoids and their risk factors among adult subjects in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This investigation was a cross-sectional study targeting adults diagnosed with hemorrhoids in the Jazan region. Data collection was performed via a self-administered questionnaire to measure sociodemographic data of the participants, lifestyle factors associated with hemorrhoids, clinical presentations of the disease, and Rome IV criteria for diagnosis of functional constipation. The chi-squared test was used to assess the frequency of hemorrhoid symptoms according to the participants' sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: In the current study, which recruited 361 participants, 59% (216 individuals) reported experiencing at least one symptom of hemorrhoids. The majority of the sample were females (60%), Saudis (96%), and living in urban areas (59%) and had a university education (77.3%). The most common risk factors identified were lack of regular physical activity (83%), prolonged sitting during office work (51%), and consuming food with saturated fat (50%). A total of 44% (159 participants) had a family history of hemorrhoids, and 40% reported suffering from constipation three times or more per week. Only 34% (123 participants) had been diagnosed with hemorrhoids by a physician. Interestingly, the majority of participants (57%) preferred using home remedies instead of seeking medical care from a healthcare professional. When assessing factors associated with experiencing a minimum of six hemorrhoid symptoms per month, age, lifestyle factors, family history of hemorrhoids, and defecation practices were found to be significantly correlated with a higher occurrence of symptoms (with a p-value of less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study identified a high prevalence of hemorrhoid symptoms and their risk factors among the adult population in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The findings suggest a need to increase the awareness of the public about hemorrhoids risk factors and the importance of seeking healthcare at an early stage of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to measure the knowledge and practices of adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia concerning routine medical checkups. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design that targeted adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The data was collected via self-administered questionnaires, with participants being approached in online settings. The questionnaires measured participant demographics, knowledge, and practice of routine medical checkups as well as their response to the Know Your Numbers campaign services initiative from the Saudi Ministry of Health. A chi-square test was used to detect statistically significant differences between the levels of knowledge and practice according to the measured demographic characteristics. Results: A total of 516 persons participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 25 years; 54.7% were female. The median level of knowledge was 3 (out of 9), varying between 0 and 9. The recruited sample exhibited average knowledge of parameters used to classify levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, and blood lipids, but low knowledge regarding the recommended age to begin screening for several chronic diseases. Factors associated with levels of knowledge were gender, age, education level, and employment (p value < 0.05). However, a history of chronic disease was the only factor associated with the practice of routine medical checkups (p value 0.023). Finally, less than 5% of this sample reported their participation in the Know Your Numbers campaign. Conclusion: Attending routine medical checkups is uncommon and only motivated by the existence of a diagnosed medical condition. Furthermore, this study found low utilization of the Know Your Numbers campaign services. This suggests a need for greater emphasis on increasing awareness of routine medical checkups among adults in the Jazan region.
