RESUMO
Background Parents serve a fundamental role in monitoring developmental milestones and identifying potential delays during early childhood, enabling timely interventions. However, previous studies in Saudi Arabia have shown limited awareness among parents regarding age-specific norms and red flags across developmental domains. This knowledge gap can severely impact the detection and management of abnormalities. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of Saudi parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning childhood developmental trajectories is imperative. Methodology This cross-sectional study assessed developmental milestone awareness, beliefs, and behaviors among Saudi parents. A sample of 1,052 parents completed a validated 38-item questionnaire covering knowledge, attitudes, practices, and demographics. Knowledge was assessed across developmental domains using 22 multiple-choice questions, with scores categorized as excellent (≥75%), good (50%-75%), fair (40%-50%), or poor (≤39%). Attitudes and practices were captured on five-point Likert scales. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The majority of participants were females (844, 80.2%), with a mean age of 38.8 years. Serious knowledge inadequacies existed regarding developmental timelines across domains, especially motor milestones like crawling (93, 29.4% correct), sitting unsupported (45, 27.6%), pointing at objects (278, 26.4%), and responding to names (440, 41.8%). Overall, 2 (0.2%) participants showed excellent and 281 (26.7%) showed good understanding, while 490 (46.6%) had poor knowledge. Significant sociodemographic variations were observed, with women and experienced parents demonstrating greater awareness (P < 0.001). Despite knowledge gaps, 542 (51.5%) actively sought developmental information themselves, and over 50% trusted pediatric guidance. Most participants expressed a willingness to undergo screenings if risk factors existed and reported spending a considerable amount of daily interaction time with their children, focusing on developmental needs. Conclusions Critical developmental milestone knowledge shortfalls and selective attitudes persist among Saudi parents, warranting public education and physician-parent communication that enhance interventions to enable impactful developmental monitoring and prompt responses to abnormalities in a timely manner.
RESUMO
Background Ocular hypertension (OHT), defined by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) beyond standard levels, is a predominant risk factor for initiating and exacerbating glaucoma, a collection of progressive optic neuropathies responsible for irreversible vision loss. Given the profound implications for vision care, it is imperative to elucidate the interplay between OHT and glaucoma for effective clinical management. Objective The present study aims to measure IOP levels and identify risk factors associated with glaucoma among middle-aged individuals in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over a six-month span (January-June 2022) in Al-Baha City. The study cohort comprised adults aged 35 and above attending a glaucoma awareness campaign at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha. Parameters such as demographics, socioeconomic status, medical and ocular history, and familial history of eye diseases were collated. Initial ophthalmologic assessments and IOP measurements were performed. Statistical analyses utilized Pearson's Chi-square test for nominal variables. Results The study encompassed 111 participants, 84 (75.7%) of whom were male, and 75 (67.6%) were of Saudi nationality. Notably, 102 (91.9%) reported no family history of glaucoma, 91 (81.1%) indicated no past medical history and 81 (73.0%) were not on any chronic medications. The mean IOP for participants' right and left eyes fluctuated between 18.2-21.5 mmHg and 18.9-22.1 mmHg, respectively. Factors such as age, gender, family history of glaucoma, past medical history, use of chronic medications, and history of ophthalmic surgeries demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with IOP (p<0.05). Conclusion This study highlights a higher prevalence of OHT in females, with several risk factors for OHT and glaucoma identified, such as familial history, vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and chronic medication use. Notably, our study did not observe a significant association with age or smoking. These findings emphasize the necessity of regular eye examinations and IOP monitoring, especially in high-risk groups.
