Evaluation of capillary blood glucose versus a high-risk questionnaire for screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Eastern province, Saudi Arabia.

This study compared 2 screening tests for detecting undiagnosed diabetes mellitus when applied in a mass-screening campaign in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia in 2004-05. Of 15 082 individuals screened, 65.8% were positive by the American Diabetes Association risk-score questionnaire and 71.3% by determination of capillary blood glucose (CBG) using a portable glucometer. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was confirmed in 20.3% of participants and pre-diabetes in 33.9% using fasting venous blood testing. The risk-score questionnaire did not perform well versus fasting and random CBG. Optimal cut-offs for fasting and random CBG were 120 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL respectively. Fasting CBG had higher sensitivity, specificity and discriminating ability than random CBG for detection of diabetes and pre-diabetes in this population.

Evaluation of capillary blood glucose versus a high-risk questionnaire for screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

This study compared 2 screening tests for detecting undiagnosed diabetes mellitus when applied in a mass-screening campaign in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia in 2004-05. Of 15 082 individuals screened, 65.8% were positive by the American Diabetes Association risk-score questionnaire and 71.3% by determination of capillary blood glucose [CBG] using a portable glucometer. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was confirmed in 20.3% of participants and pre-diabetes in 33.9% using fasting venous blood testing. The risk-score questionnaire did not perform well versus fasting and random CBG. Optimal cut-offs for fasting and random CBG were 120 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL respectively. Fasting CBG had higher sensitivity, specificity and discriminating ability than random CBG for detection of diabetes and pre-diabetes in this population

Self-reported knowledge and pattern of physical activity among school students in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the self-reported knowledge and pattern of physical activity among a sample of 1240 male and 1331 female intermediate and secondary school students in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia. The majority of male and female students knew that physical activity is protective against diseases in general (92.9% and 91.8% respectively) and in the prevention of obesity (69.4% and 78.5%) but had poor knowledge about the role of physical activity in the prevention of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Significantly more male students than female students practised physical activity 3+ times per week (45.6% versus 33.7%). Age and the knowledge that exercise protects from obesity were the main determinants of the practice of physical activity among male students.

Self-reported knowledge and pattern of physical activity among school students in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the self-reported knowledge and pattern of physical activity among a sample of 1240 male and 1331 female intermediate and secondary school students in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia. The majority of male and female students knew that physical activity is protective against diseases in general [92.9% and 91.8% respectively] and in the prevention of obesity [69.4% and 78.5%] but had poor knowledge about the role of physical activity in the prevention of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Significantly more male students than female students practised physical activity 3+ times per week [45.6% versus 33.7%]. Age and the knowledge that exercise protects from obesity were the main determinants of the practice of physical activity among male students

Assessment of water use and sanitation behavior of a rural area in Bangladesh.

A health development project was established in a rural area of Bangladesh that entailed training village health promoters to provide health education and to motivate families to install tubewells and sanitary latrines. Following a 2-y period of project implementation, the authors sought to assess knowledge and practice of mothers and family members about use of safe water and household tubewells. A household survey in the project area was compared with a similar one in a nearby control area. Three-hundred households in each area were selected, and mothers were interviewed with a standard questionnaire. Significantly more mothers in the health development project area (45.7%) used tubewell water for domestic purposes than in the control area (32.8%). However, hygienic practices of mothers were inadequate. Sanitary latrines were present in less than 20% of households in both areas. Approximately 97% of mothers and 78% of adult family members always used household latrines. However, the use of household latrines by children was low (26.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in the use of household latrines between the project and control areas. The results showed an improvement in use of household tubewells in the project area; however, there was no improvement in sanitation practices of families in the project area. Health education alone, without improvement of socioeconomic status, is not effective in changing behavior.

Knowledge and practice of preventive measures in small industries in Al-Khobar.

OBJECTIVE: The specific objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of workers in small industries regarding preventive measures of occupational hazards. METHODS: Three workshops were randomly selected from each of the 8 types of industries in the industrial area. This gave a total sample of 24 workshops. From each of these, at least one worker was selected giving a total of 33 workers. All selected workers were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. A checklist on the conditions of the shop and availability of essential safety equipment was also designed. RESULTS: All workers were young non-Saudis. More than half of them (58%) were smokers. Nine percent of the workers had no knowledge of preventive measures. About 12% used personal protective measures all the time while 60% did not use any. Workers were exposed to a variety of occupational hazards with injuries and accidents forming the majority (39%). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of workers in small industries about occupational hazards and their use of protective measures was inadequate. Workers were exposed to a variety of occupational hazards mainly accidents and injuries.

Heart disease risk factors: prevalence and knowledge in a primary care setting, Audi Arabia

The prevalence and knowledge of coronary heart disease risk factors among persons attending South-west Thogbah primary health care centre were assessed. A random sample of 227 male and female Saudi attendees aged > / = 18 years was assessed. The prevalent risk factors were diabetes mellitus [28.2%], obesity [37.9%] and lack of physical exercise [68.3%]. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent risk factor among males [55.6%], while obesity was the main one among females [42.3%]. Less than half of the sample knew about the risk factors and preventive measures. Knowledge of risk factors and prevention was significantly associated with educational level [P < 0.001]

How to make the most of village health promoters.

In a rural area of Bangladesh the methods used by village health promoters and the time available to them for their intended tasks were inadequate. Poverty and illiteracy in the community exacerbated their difficulties. Ways of tackling these problems are discussed below.

PIP: The first steps were taken to establish a health development project in Bangladesh's Ukhia subdistrict in 1990. Ukhia's population of approximately 122,000 is mainly rural. Health and social services were minimal, and high levels of morbidity and mortality were associated with preventable diseases. The main goals of the project were to improve the curative, preventive, and promotional components of the health system; to train 200-250 community health workers as village health promoters (VHPs) over a 5-year period; and to foster socioeconomic development by supporting income generating-projects. The performance of the project's 28 male and 27 female trained VHPs was assessed in April 1994, almost 2.5 years after the project was first implemented. A sample of 300 households in the project area was compared with a similar sample in a nearby control area, while community leaders and mothers of children under age 5 were interviewed. 183 of the households in the project area had been visited by a health worker, with 61% of the visits having been made by the VHPs. The VHPs failed to reach the target number of homes because of the scattered distribution of the households, the lack of transport, and the difficulties of travel during the rainy season. In the control area, only 136 households were visited by a health worker. The main obstacles faced by VHPs were the population's poverty and illiteracy which made people unwilling to pay for health cards and receive health education, and the scattered distribution of the target households. The recommendations of community leaders and VHPs are presented.

A pilot study on family spacing attitudes and practices in rural Gezira.

The attitudes towards, and practice of, modern contraception among the rural population of the Gezira area of the Sudan were analyzed using a structured questionnaire. This was part of a comprehensive community survey carried out by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Sudan, as part of a rural development program. Eight villages belonging to the Sennar Sugar Scheme were included in the survey. The result showed a low percentage of contraceptive users in all villages. The main reasons given by mothers for not using contraceptives were that contraceptives were against religion, mothers had not heard about them, mothers wanted more children, and contraceptives were not available. These villages were also characterized by high illiteracy rate and large family size. There is a need for health education concerning child spacing. This should be combined with religious education by religious leaders to remove misunderstandings concerning modern contraceptive use. Adult education programs, especially for females, will also have an impact.

Community health in a rural area of Sudan.

A community survey was conducted in Al awayda village, one of eight villages selected for study in the rural Gezira province of Sudan. The objective of the survey was to identify the main health, social and economic problems of people in rural areas and to set priorities as a first phase in a rural development program. The results showed a high illiteracy rate and poor socioeconomic status aggravated by the drought and famine which affected this area of Africa in the years 1983-85. There was an inadequate safe water supply, poor environmental sanitation and inadequate primary health care services. The major disease problems were malaria, diarrheal diseases and schistosomiasis. The implementation of primary health care services with special emphasis on maternal and child health and health education is a clear need. The impact of Sennar Sugar Agricultural Scheme on this village is also discussed.

PIP: A survey of the health, social and economic problems of the village of A1 Awayda, in Gezira province, Sudan, by medical students, was conducted over 2 weeks as part of their field training research and rural development curriculum. A 40% random household survey was based on a pretested structured questionnaire. The village comprises 195 households of 1201 people, with 40% under 15. As a result of the Sennar Sugar Scheme begun in 1978, 58% of the population work in the sugar factory. Rain-fed crops have failed for the last 2 years because of drought, and subsistence acreage has contracted because of sorghum planting for sugar. Sanitation consists of latrines in 15% of houses. People are at risk of contracting schistosomiasis from crossing the irrigation canal to reach the well. The diet is based on the staple starch, dura in the form of kisra. Breast feeding is continued for 1-2 years, with 47% supplementation by bottle or kisra or rice water at an average of 7 months. The major health problems are malaria, schistosomiasis, cough and diarrhea. 54% of families were immunized. 11.5% of women used modern contraceptives. Non-users cited religion as a reason for non-use. Female circumcision is common. It was recommended that latrines be dug, and that health education, immunization, prenatal care and family planning be provided.