The Prevalence of Violence Against Women During Pregnancy and After Delivery in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Violence against pregnant women has become a public health issue and a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence as any act (physical or verbal) that causes physical or psychological harm. Obstetric violence committed by healthcare providers can lead to significant health consequences harming both mother and child. During pregnancy, violence is more frequent than some obstetric complications that are routinely recorded or screened. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of violence against women during pregnancy and labor, and postpartum. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study, our study population consisted of women who have experienced pregnancy and labor in the Najd region. We used both face-to-face and online questionnaires that evaluated the knowledge and practice outcomes of women who have experienced violence during labor, in addition to the behavior of healthcare providers toward these women. Results In our analysis of demographic data, we found a significant association between age and having experienced violence before/during birth. Most women who experienced violence were between 25 and 45 years old (p=0.002). Furthermore, the history analysis revealed a significant association between follow-up regularity and violence experiences (p=0.010). Nursing students delivered most women (71%), and they did not provide information regarding the women's rights or procedures. Of the respondents, 39.6% did not feel comfortable and were afraid of the healthcare providers' words, phrases, or behaviors. Conclusion Our study concluded that many women experience violence committed by healthcare providers before, during, and after labor without realizing it. As a result of the ignorance of their rights, violence is more prevalent among these women. As a recommendation, to expand on the rights, women organizations should dedicate more efforts and throw campaigns to raise the awareness of violence among other women.

Habits, Traditions, and Beliefs Associated With the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Diabetic Patients in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background Since diabetes mellitus (DM) affects every aspect of a person's being, more and more people are using complementary and alternative therapies such as ingesting ginger and cinnamon in addition to conventional medical care and lifestyle changes to manage their condition and enhance their well-being. Although this population uses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at a high rate, it is unclear what causes this use. Objective We aim to know the habits, traditions, and beliefs associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine among type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study conducted among diabetes patients in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. Participants were selected via a non-probability sampling technique. Patients were interviewed in the diabetic clinics using validated questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY, USA). Results A total of 444 validated responses were received in this study. The average age was 50 ± 16.9 years, and females represented the highest proportion (58.6%). Moreover, we found that most of the participants had type 2 diabetes (79.1%) and 93 (20.9%) had type 1 diabetes. Hypertension was the most reported chronic disease. Our results revealed that the prevalence of CAM usage was 29.1%. Regarding the sources of information on herbal medicines, we found that more than half of the respondents (57.4%) obtained information from friends, relatives, and neighbors. Ginger, vitamins and minerals, and cinnamon were the most frequently used herbals among our participants. Our results found that 38% of CAM users used herbal products on a regular basis. As regards the frequency of using herbal products, 29.5% of the respondents used herbal medicine weekly and 21.7% used it daily. In addition, we found that gender, marital status, and monthly income were significantly associated with the use of CAM (P value = 0.008, 0.011, and 0.011, respectively). The significantly higher CAM use was associated with females, married participants, and participants with a monthly income of 10,000-15,000 Saudi riyal (SAR). Conclusion According to our research, CAM use among diabetes patients in the Al-Qassim region was found to be relatively common. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher (79.1%) in comparison to type 1 diabetes mellitus (20.9%). Also, the most commonly used herb was ginger (47.66%), followed by vitamins and minerals (44.53%), and cinnamon (42.19%). Patients with diabetes need to be informed of the significance of telling their doctors about their use of CAM.

Antibiotic use and knowledge in the community in Kalamoon, Syrian Arab Republic: a cross-sectional study.

Antibiotic misuse contributes to the growing problem of microbial resistance. To understand the current knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use among Syrians, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 430 randomly selected adult residents of Kalamoon in the Syrian Arab Republic using a questionnaire. A high proportion (85%) had taken antibiotics in the past 4 weeks and 34% were not aware of the dangers of antibiotics. Of 365 participants, only 43% were prescribed the antibiotic by a physician to treat the condition, while 57% used an old prescription or took someone else's advice. Males, younger individuals, and those with low and medium income and lower educational status showed poorer practice and lower knowledge towards antibiotics. Educational efforts are needed to reduce patient demand for antibiotics.

Antibiotic use and knowledge in the community in Kalamoon, Syrian Arab Republic: a cross-sectional study

Antibiotic misuse contributes to the growing problem of microbial resistance. To understand the current knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use among Syrians, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 430 randomly selected adult residents of Kalamoon in the Syrian Arab Republic using a questionnaire. A high proportion [85%] had taken antibiotics in the past 4 weeks and 34% were not aware of the dangers of antibiotics of 365 participants, only 43% were prescribed the antibiotic by a physician to treat the condition, while 57% used an old prescription or took someone else's advice. Males, younger individuals, and those with low and medium income and lower educational status showed poorer practice and lower knowledge towards antibiotics. Educational efforts are needed to reduce patient demand for antibiotics

Association of acute parvovirus B19 infection with new onset of acute lymphoblastic and myeloblastic leukaemia.

AIMS: To investigate the association of acute parvovirus B19 infection with new onset of acute lymphoblastic and myeloblastic leukaemia. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) at diagnosis (n = 2) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at diagnosis (n = 14) were analysed for parvovirus B19 DNA by means of nested polymerase chain reaction. In addition, samples from patients with benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) (n = 10) and hydrocephalus (n = 13) were tested as controls. RESULTS: Four leukaemia cases were positive-common ALL (n = 2), null cell ALL (n =1), and M7 AML (n = 1)-whereas all controls were negative (Yates corrected chi(2) value, 3.97; p = 0.046; odds ratio, 16.92; confidence interval, 1.03 to 77.18). All four patients were significantly anaemic, but none was encephalitic or had evidence of central nervous system leukaemia. In three of these patients, serum tumour necrosis alpha, interferon gamma, interleukin 6, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (range, 34.93-3800.06 pg/ml), and macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 were detectable. All of these four patients carried at least one of the HLA-DRB1 alleles, which have been associated with symptomatic parvovirus B19 infection. CONCLUSION: Erythroid suppression and immune cell proliferation are both associated with B19 infection and may also be important in the pathogenesis of acute leukaemia.

Evidence for the role of demyelination, HLA-DR alleles, and cytokines in the pathogenesis of parvovirus B19 meningoencephalitis and its sequelae.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical and pathological features of parvovirus B19 meningoencephalitis and its sequelae in 12 previously published cases, and to perform additional tests to determine the pathogenesis of the disease. METHODS: Cases were reviewed and available serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tested for antiganglioside antibodies and a range of cytokines. In situ hybridisation for parvovirus B19 DNA was performed on postmortem brain tissue in two cases. HLA-DRB1 typing was undertaken on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes. RESULTS: Cerebellar involvement was suggested either clinically or pathologically in four cases. In the two cases with postmortem histology, there was marked atrophy of the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum with focal loss of Purkinje cells. Brain scanning by MRI or CT was done in six cases during the acute phase. Three were abnormal with evidence of demyelination. Three had markedly enlarged ventricles, in two of which there was high signal intensity from the white matter on both T1 and T2 weighted images. The three cases with abnormal brain scans had long term neurological sequelae (mental retardation, personality change, altered affect). In situ hybridisation on available postmortem brain tissue was negative in the two cases tested. All cases in which HLA-DR alleles were determined carried at least one of the following alleles: HLA-DRB1*01, *04, *07, *09, *15, *16. Available serum and CSF was tested for antiganglioside antibodies (all negative) and for a panel of cytokines, which had a similar profile in both serum (n = 5) and CSF (n = 1) during the acute phase. Cytokines that were consistently detectable were IL-6 (mean 726.20 pg/ml), TNFalpha (50.64 pg/ml), IFNgamma (39.64 pg/ml), GM-CSF (216.12 pg/ml), and MCP-1 (154.43 pg/ml); IL-1beta, IL-5, and IL-13 were undetectable. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DR associations, an increased cytokine response, and benefit from immunomodulatory treatment (in one case) support a role for the immune response in the pathogenesis of parvovirus B19 meningoencephalitis.

Association of human parvovirus B19 infection with acute meningoencephalitis.

To find out the incidence and clinical presentation of parvovirus B19 meningoencephalitis, we tested samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 162 patients (one from each patient) with undiagnosed meningoencephalitis, who presented between March, 1997, and March, 1998 (an outbreak period) using nested PCR for B19 genes. Seven patients were positive; an incidence of 4.3%. Five additional cases of meningoencephalitis were detected from other years. Three patients with underlying disorders (haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, Cockayne's syndrome, and Turner's syndrome) died. Neurological sequelae were observed in three surviving patients, all of whom had had striking abnormalities detected on brain scans done during the acute phase.