An Institutional Analysis of State-Market Relations in the Saudi Arabian Housing System: A Case Study of Riyadh

Over the past decade, policymakers in Saudi Arabia continue to face enormous challenges in meeting the increasing demand for housing, particularly affordable housing. A review of the literature revealed that inefficiencies associated with state institutions and housing policies are constraining the private sector’s ability to sufficiently engage in the production of housing. This study focuses on how the state’s institutional framework in the housing system affects the performance and capacity of the market to deliver housing for the low- and moderate-income segments. The main objective is to uncover the state-market relations in order to understand the processes that shape housing outcomes. The thesis begins by describing the current operation of the Saudi housing system using the capital city of Riyadh as a single case study. Relevant literature on housing research was reviewed to build a platform for this investigation and to drill deeply into existing theoretical frameworks. Multiple institutional theoretical concepts drawn from the literature were adopted and synthesised to create a conceptual framework. This was then used to unpack institutional dynamics in the housing system and to illuminate the contemporary network of state-market relations. An exploratory qualitative research design was undertaken to facilitate insights into the institutional arrangements that shape the actual operation of key actors in the housing system. In-depth interviews conducted over two stages allowed this study to closely examine the complexities of Riyadh’s housing system in its distinctive context. The study found that state-market relations were marked by acute tension that seems to be embedded in the broader institutional context of the housing system. By illuminating and analysing the results of the fieldwork, it was revealed that many issues in the housing market are driven by a number of fundamental factors that amplify the tension between actors in the system and cause the many housing challenges in Riyadh. The implications of the findings for future housing policy are also presented

Translanguaging in the ESP Context: Saudi Students' Perceptions of the Bilingual Practices

Applied linguists address translanguaging from a variety of angles to comprehend its effectiveness, applicability, and how it supports or undermines social and educational goals in various bilingual and multilingual environments around the world. A small number of studies have been carried out to demonstrate the reality of pedagogical translanguaging in the context of higher education and, more specifically, in countries where the official language is distinct from the language of instruction in language education. Therefore, this study broadens the understanding of translanguaging practices in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programs in Saudi universities through the perceptions and perspectives of ESP undergraduate students. The participants of this study were ESP 150 students at the University of Bisha. The data was obtained quantitatively and qualitatively using three research tools: the learners’ questionnaire, observation of teaching sessions, and semi-structured interviews with the learners. The findings indicated that students have a positive attitude towards translanguaging. They found it a useful pedagogical strategy to improve their understanding of ESP terminologies and their field-related complex terms. On the pedagogical level, the study contributed to the field of translanguaging by providing a clear picture of how students perceive translanguaging and how the use of the mother tongue along with English in the classrooms was significant in engaging the students in the learning process

Significant differences in the length and weight measurements of Jordanian infants as compared to the WHO 2006 growth standards

BACKGROUND: In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced new growth standards based on data derived globally from optimally nourished breastfed infants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of implementing WHO growth standards on the growth patterns of Jordanian infants. In addition, it was to ascertain the necessity of establishing country-specific growth standards and charts tailored to Jordanian infants.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 102,846 infants (50.1% boys, 49.9% girls) aged 0–24 months, from 115 primary healthcare centers across the country were retrieved from a National E-health Program. Weight and length measurements were analyzed, and age- and sex-specific z-scores were calculated relative to the WHO growth standards. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Mann–Whitney U test was performed to determine significant differences between the measurements for boys and girls in terms of age, length, and weight.RESULTS: Jordanian infants exhibited significantly shorter length-for-age measurements than WHO standards with mean z-scores of −0.56 and −0.38, for boys and girls, respectively. Weight-for-age measurements showed a good fit and were comparable to the WHO growth standards for boys (mean z score = −0.05) and girls (mean z score = 0.04). Notably, Jordanian infants displayed higher weight-for-length measurements, with mean z-scores of 0.51 for boys and 0.47 for girls.CONCLUSION: The availability of Jordanian-specific growth standards will improve the accuracy of assessing infant growth and enhance the monitoring and evaluation of their health and development

Evaluating Influenza Vaccination Practices among COPD Patients

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) stands as a global health concern linked to considerable morbidity and mortality. In Jordan, the prevalence of COPD is substantial, but research in this area is limited. Exacerbations of COPD can lead to severe outcomes, including hospitalization and increased cardiovascular risk. Influenza is a significant trigger of exacerbations in COPD patients, and vaccination is recommended. However, studies have shown negative attitudes towards the influenza vaccine. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and intentions of COPD patients in Jordan regarding influenza vaccination. Data were collected through a custom-designed questionnaire from 300 COPD patients. The study revealed low influenza vaccination rates, with forgetfulness and lack of knowledge about vaccine effectiveness being the main barriers. Higher knowledge and positive attitudes were associated with greater intention to vaccinate. To tackle these challenges, it is recommended to implement customized health education campaigns, foster collaborations with healthcare providers, and engage in community-focused initiatives to enhance acceptance of the influenza vaccine among COPD patients in Jordan. These findings underscore the importance of addressing knowledge gaps and negative attitudes to enhance vaccine uptake and improve health outcomes for COPD patients

Evaluating the validity of international standards of Height, weight, and body mass index on Jordanian children and adolescents

Background: the variations in a child's overall body shape and figure among different countries are attributable to differences in genetics, environmental factors, and the interaction between these elements. This study aims to evaluate the validity, reliability, and appropriateness of ap-plying the international growth standards to Jordanian children and adolescents aged 2-19 years old. Methods: 65828 Jordanian children and adolescents (43% males; 57% females) aged 2-19 years old were selected from the Hakeem Program database and various private schools across Jordan. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, and body mass index (BMI)-for-age were analyzed comparatively for Jordanian children and adolescents against the international growth standards. The z-score for each record was computed based on international equations. Results: Mean z-scores for height-for-age, weight-for-age, and BMI-for-age for both genders showed significant deviation from the international standards across most age intervals. It was found that in most age groups, Jordanian children and adolescents were shorter and lighter than the CDC and WHO standards, except for females at ages ≥ 16 years which were heavier with higher BMI-for-age values than CDC standards based on weight-for-age and BMI-for-age equations. Moreover, Jordanian males at ages ≥ 12 years had lower BMI-for-age values than the CDC standards. Conclusions: Jordanian children and adolescents showed significant deviations in their measurements from international standards and growth reference values. The development of a population-specific growth chart is highly recommended to enhance the accuracy of evaluating children’s and adolescents' wellness

Prevalence of Being Obese, Overweight, and Underweight Among Jordanian Children and Adolescents Based on International Growth Standards

Objectives: The rise of obesity and other nutrition-related conditions among children and adolescents is a global challenge, particularly in the Middle East. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of being underweight, overweight, and obese among Jordanian children and adolescents using the body mass index (BMI) percentiles of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional/longitudinal study analyzed 58,474 (42.6% males; 57.4% females) height, weight, and BMI-for-age records from 31508 healthy Jordanian children and adolescents aged 2–19 years. The data were retrieved from the Ministry of Health’s nationwide electronic database (2017–2023) and assessed using the CDC and WHO growth standards. Logistic regression was performed to assess the variables associated with overweight/obese status. Results: The prevalence of being underweight, overweight, and obese varied by the reference used, as more cases of being obese and underweight were reported when applying the CDC standards. The regression models showed the males had significantly lower odds of being overweight and obese than the females. Increased age was associated with higher odds of being overweight and obese, with annual increases observed across all age groups. Conclusions: Using the WHO and CDC standards, the prevalence of being underweight was higher in the males aged 6 years and older, while being overweight and obese was more prevalent in the females. The observed annual increase in the prevalence of being overweight and obese underscores the need for targeted strategies. Growth references tailored to regional profiles may improve national nutrition policies for Jordanian children and adolescents

Acceptance of Flu Vaccine among Parents of Diabetic Children in Jordan

Abstract: There is a critical need to understand vaccine decision-making in high-risk groups. This study explored flu vaccine acceptance among Jordanian parents of diabetic children. Employing a cross-sectional approach, 405 parents from multiple healthcare centers across Jordan were recruited through stratified sampling, ensuring a broad representation of socioeconomic backgrounds. A structured questionnaire, distributed both in-person and online, evaluated their knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of the flu vaccine for their diabetic children. The results indicated that only 6.4% of the study sample reported vaccinating their children against the flu annually, and only 23% are planning to vaccinate their children this year. A multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed notable variability in responses. Specifically, parents with a positive attitude towards the flu vaccine and those with older children had less odds to reject the vaccine (OR = 0.589, 95% CI (0.518–0.670), p &lt; 0.001 and OR = 0.846, 95% CI (0.736–0.974), p = 0.02, respectively). Conversely, prevalent misconceptions regarding vaccine safety and efficacy emerged as significant barriers to acceptance.Our findings advocate for targeted educational programs that directly address and debunk these specific misconceptions. Additionally, strengthened healthcare communication to provide clear, consistent information about the flu vaccine’s safety and benefits is vital to help enhance vaccine uptake among this vulnerable population, emphasizing the need to address specific concerns and misinformation directly.</div

Peri-adolescent drinking of ethanol and/or nicotine modulates astroglial glutamate transporters and metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 in female alcohol-preferring rats

Impairment in glutamate neurotransmission mediates the development of dependence upon nicotine (NIC) and ethanol (EtOH). Previous work indicates that continuous access to EtOH or phasic exposure to NIC reduces expression of the glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) but not the glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST). Additionally, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) expression was affected following exposure to EtOH or NIC. However, little is known about the effects of EtOH and NIC co-consumption on GLT-1, xCT, GLAST, and mGluR1 expression. In this study, peri-adolescent female alcohol preferring (P) rats were given binge-like access to water, sucrose (SUC), SUC-NIC, EtOH, or EtOH-NIC for four weeks. The present study determined the effects of these reinforcers on GLT-1, xCT, GLAST, and mGluR1 expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), hippocampus (HIP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). GLT-1 and xCT expression were decreased in the NAc following both SUC-NIC and EtOH-NIC. In addition, only xCT expression was downregulated in the HIP in both of these latter groups. Also, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the HIP was reduced following SUC, SUC-NIC, EtOH, and EtOH-NIC consumption. Similar to previous work, GLAST expression was not altered in any brain region by any of the reinforcers. However, mGluR1 expression was increased in the NAc in the SUC-NIC, EtOH, and EtOH-NIC groups. These results indicate that peri-adolescent binge-like drinking of EtOH or SUC with or without NIC may exert differential effects on astroglial glutamate transporters and receptors. Our data further parallel some of the previous findings observed in adult rats

Development and Validation of the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire: Enhancing Diabetes Management in Arabic-Speaking Populations

(1) Background: Amidst the global rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), effective management of the disease has become increasingly important. Health literacy, particularly in non-English speaking populations, plays a crucial role in this management. To address the lack of suitable tools for Arabic-speaking diabetic patients, this study developed and validated the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire (JDHLQ). (2) Methods: A sample of 400 diabetic patients from Jordan, with a balance in gender, age, and educational background, was recruited from an endocrinology outpatient clinic. The JDHLQ, consisting of informative and communicative sections, underwent rigorous validation. Utilizing principal component analysis and Rasch analysis, the JDHL's reliability and validity were evaluated. (3) Results: The results showed moderate proficiency in understanding and communicating diabetes-related information and confirmed the reliability and validity of the JDHLQ. (4) Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of culturally appropriate health literacy tools in enhancing patient understanding, engagement, and overall management of T2DM in Arabic-speaking communities

The Development of Standardized National Head Circumference Growth Charts for Jordanian Children Aged 0-5 Years:A longitudinal and cross-sectional study

Background: Head circumference (HC) is a key indicator of growth and brain development in children, used to identify abnormalities like microcephaly and macrocephaly. While WHO growth standards are widely adopted, they may not account for regional variations due to genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. This study aimed to develop and validate national HC growth charts for Jordanian children aged 0–5 years and compare them with WHO standards. Methods: This study analysed 628456 HC measurements from 250276 Jordanian children (51.6% boys, 48.4% girls) aged 0–1800 days, using data from the Hakeem program. Only healthy children were included. HC measurements followed international guidelines, and data were analysed using the LMS statistical method. Percentiles were calculated, and growth patterns were compared with WHO standards. Results: National HC-for-age growth charts were developed for the 3rd, 15th, 50th, 85th, and 97th percentiles. Median percentiles for Jordanian children aligned with WHO standards, but the 3rd percentile was lower, particularly for girls after 840 days. The 97th percentile diverged after 240 days, with larger HC measurements observed in Jordanian children. Conclusions: This study provides the first validated HC growth charts for Jordanian children, addressing the limitations of international standards in reflecting regional variations. These charts offer clinicians and public health professionals a precise tool for assessing and monitoring growth, promoting better health outcomes in Jordanian children