Tobacco use among health care workers in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The present study targeted health care workers (HCWs) in Governmental Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centers in Abha City, southwestern Saudi Arabia. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was used to assess tobacco use and the reasons for smoking. The present study included 736 HCWs. The overall prevalence of tobacco use amounted to 26.3% (14.8% current and 11.5% former users). In a binary logistic regression analysis, males were found significantly more prone to smoke compared to females (aOR = 3.081, 95% CI: 2.004-4.739). Similarly, parental history of tobacco use was found to be a significant risk factor (aOR = 1.540, 95% CI: 1.040-2.278). Among current users, 89.9% were interested in quitting and 66.1% tried before to quit. The prevalence of smoking among HCWs in the present study, besides being a public health problem, represents a potential barrier in involving this group as a first line for tobacco control. There is a need for a national intervention programme in the country in a tailored manner for HCWs to control tobacco use parallel to the running national program for public. These interventions should begin early in basic medical education and to be applied continually during one's medical career.

Breast cancer knowledge and related behaviors among women in Abha City, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,092 women attending urban primary health care centers in Abha City southwestern Saudi Arabia about breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and related practices. Only 22.0% heard about mammography, and 41.5% heard about breast self-examination (BSE). More than half of the women in the study identified changes occurring in case of breast cancer and identified risk factors. Only 8.3% were examined by clinical breast examination (CBE), 6.2% were examined by mammography, and 29.7% performed BSE. The study points to the insufficient knowledge of women and the low practice of BSE, CBE, and mammography. Public awareness should be enhanced by all available means including mass media, schools, social gatherings, and waiting areas in primary health care centers. There is an urgent need for continuing medical education programs for health care workers in the region concerning breast cancer.

Gender differences in cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents in Aseer Region, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore gender differences in the prevalence of silent and clinical apparent cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents in Aseer Region, southwestern Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study on a stratified sample of 1869 adolescents was carried out. They were interviewed and examined for weight and height, systolic and diastolic blood pressure using standardized techniques. RESULTS: The study revealed high prevalence of some potential behavioral and biological cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors among adolescent males and females in the study area. Behavioral risk factors included inadequate low consumption of fruits and vegetables, physical inactivity, and smoking. Physical inactivity was significantly more prevalent among females than males (42.9% and 25.7%, respectively). Smoking was significantly more among females than males (11.8% and 1.3%, respectively). Biological risk factors found were family history of CVD, obesity and high blood pressure. Obesity was significantly prevalent among females (29.4%) compared to males (20.6%). Males had significantly more high blood pressure than females. In logistic regression analysis, being male (aOR = 2.992, 95% CI = 1.933-4.742) and obesity (aOR = 2.995, 95% CI = 2.342-3.991) were found to be significant risk factors in developing high blood pressure among adolescents in the region. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents is a public health problem in the region. There is a need for a national program in the country to prevent and control cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents.

Management of Diarrhea in Under-fives at Home and Health Facilities in Kashmir.

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal disease forms one of the two major killer diseases in children under five years of age in the developing world. There are inherent cultural practices for management of diarrhea at the domestic level. Also, the treatment practices at health centers vary, with inappropriate use of antibiotics, and iv fluids observed commonly, while ORS is less frequently used. METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional study was carried out using pretested interview schedule between January and December 2006, in villages of Kashmir Valley. RESULTS: The ORS use rate is low (24.4% and 8.4%) respectively in past and current episode. Cultural practices include harmful ones like starving to overcome the episode. The rate of Antibiotic use is higher with 77.9%. CONCLUSION: Kashmir valley faces the same problems in effective diarrhea management as in other developing regions of India and the world, viz. less ORS use, high antibiotic use and harmful cultural practices like giving bowel rest.