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Background: Identifying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine acceptance and associated factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Middle East and North Africa region is important to meet the need for broad-scale vaccination against COVID-19. Objectives: To investigate the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and factors among PLHIV in the Middle East and North Africa region. Method: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among PLHIV currently living in Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia between March 2021 and August 2021. Results: Of the 540 respondents, 19.3% reported already being vaccinated against COVID-19 (n = 104), 32.0% responded 'definitely yes' (n = 173), and 13.3% responded 'probably yes' (n = 72) for intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, with an overall COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate of 64.6% among PLHIV in the region. The most significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance included feeling less worried about COVID-19 transmission post-vaccination (221.0% higher odds), and believing the disease is vaccine-preventable (160.0% higher odds). Reported barriers to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance include concerns about vaccine effectiveness and belief that HIV medications protect against COVID-19 transmission, living in a rural area and reporting less-frequent engagement with HIV care. Nine out of 10 participants reported that the chances of them getting COVID-19 vaccine would increase if given adequate information and if their doctor recommended it. Conclusion: Findings of the study can help researchers, health officials, and other health system actors understand the predictors and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance reported by PLHIV. This understanding could inform the future planning of interventions tailored to PLHIV.
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OBJECTIVES: To assess Quality of Life (QOL), and its associated factors between asthmatic children and their caregivers, and determine the correlation between QOL of patients and caregivers, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among eligible participants who attended Pediatric Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic of KAUH, during 2016/2017. A data collection sheet was used. The standardized Arabic version of Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) for children aged 7 - 17 years was completed. The caregiver who accompanied the child fulfilled the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. RESULTS: QOL scores were reduced among asthmatic children who had other type of allergy, or a family history of allergies. Uncontrolled management of asthma presented by frequent waking-up at night, frequent wheezes, visiting Emergency Rooms (ER), or hospital admission was associated with poor QOL of both asthmatic children and their caregivers. There is a positive correlation between child symptoms domain of PAQLQ and emotional domain of PACQLQ of their caregivers. CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled asthma was associated with poor QOL of asthmatic child and caregivers. Better management of asthma is recommended to improve their QOL.
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BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a serious cardiovascular disorder affecting middle-aged individuals. It is a major cause of death among adults over the age of 35 years. In Saudi Arabia, CAD is associated with higher mortality rate, and Saudi patients are reported to have significantly higher prevalence of risk factors for CAD than the Western population. Furthermore, as, to date, there is no definite cure for CAD, prevention of the disease and tight control of the known risk factors are the cornerstones for reducing CAD-associated mortality. Thus, the present work aimed to assess the population awareness of CAD risk factors in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah during the period January 2017 to December 2017 by using an online survey questionnaire to assess participants' awareness of 14 risk factors for CAD, namely: smoking, lack of physical activity, fast food and soft drink intake, television and computer use; history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction and stroke; as well as a family history of diabetes mellitus, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CAD and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Of 468 respondents, 41% were males. The mean age was 31.9±12.4. Approximately 86% were Saudi, and ~60% had a university education. The mean overall awareness score was 4.31±1.36 (1.00-8.00). Fast food, soft drinks, and family history of diabetes were the most commonly identified risk factors, reported by 74.8%, 64.3%, and 47.2% of participants, respectively. There was a strong correlation between overall awareness score and awareness of each risk factor individually (P<0.003). CONCLUSION: There is an evident limited knowledge among the population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia regarding the risk factors for CAD, and it is recommended that the healthcare sector in the country focus on public health education programs about the disease.
