RESUMO
Introduction Visits to the Holy Masjid are considered mass gatherings (MGs), defined as concentrations of people at a specific location for a certain objective over a predetermined amount of time. Such gatherings might strain the host nation's preparation and reaction capabilities, increasing the chances of spreading infectious diseases. Aim To evaluate the comprehension of hand hygiene (HH) and proper HH habits among visitors to the Holy Masjid during the month of Ramadan in 2023. Methods A total of 690 visitors to the Holy Masjid were interviewed for this cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was developed using model questions from another published survey. Results Of the participants, 541 (78.4%), predominantly female, had generally good knowledge about HH. A total of 282 (40.9%) participants used nothing to clean their hands after shaking hands with someone. Four hundred and eighty (69.6%) participants were aware that poor HH does not spread HIV/AIDS, and 504 (73%) stated that consistent HH does not reduce the body's natural immunity. A total of 530 (76.8%) participants with good knowledge about HH cleaned their hands before meals, compared to 131 (19%) participants with poor knowledge of HH. Conclusion Based on the results of our study, the participants' awareness of HH was generally high, with most recognizing the role of good HH in preventing common infectious diseases, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. However, certain aspects of HH, such as the necessity and proper use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, were not well understood. Regular, focused awareness-raising initiatives are recommended to enhance HH knowledge and practices among visitors to the Holy Masjid.
RESUMO
Background Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, which primarily affects the meninges, with a high incidence in young children. The most effective technique for preventing IMD is vaccination, which has been available for over 40 years through meningococcal polysaccharide capsule-containing vaccines. This study aims to assess the parental knowledge of meningococcal disease and vaccination in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2023 among 597 parents in the Makkah region using a validated online survey. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results The study sample included 597 parents, of which 339 (56.8%) were female and 258 (43.2%) were male. Our research demonstrated that 388 (65%) participants had an insufficient understanding of IMD, while 209 (35%) had a sufficient understanding. There was a significant correlation between the knowledge score and the completion of the routine vaccination and whether vaccinating a child is essential for the protection of other members of society. Conclusions Based on our study, only around one-third of the participants demonstrated a sufficient level of knowledge regarding IMD and its vaccination. To provide a more accurate assessment of the Saudi population, additional research should be conducted in various regions and cities.
