Peace impact on health: population access to iodized salt in south Sudan in post-conflict period

Aim To determine the population access to salt/iodized salt during and after the armed conflict in south Sudan and to illustrate geographical variations in population consumption of iodized salt in south Sudan after the armed conflict. Methods The sources of data for the conflict period were the 2004 Toward a Baseline: Best Estimates of Social Indicators for Southern Sudan study report and the 2000 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, and for the post-conflict period the 2005 Sudan Household Health Survey (SHHS) data set. Results After peace agreement, population access to salt increased by 6.8% (Z = 5.488, P < 0.001) and the consumption of iodized salt increased by 32.9% (Z = 24.668, P < 0.001). More than 73% of families were using iodized salt but geographical differences existed between states. Conclusion Peace had positive impact on population access to iodized salt in south Sudan. Public health authorities in south Sudan need to establish quality monitoring and surveillance systems to track progress toward Universal Salt Iodization goal defined by the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders

How to determine Sample Size: the Design of Sample Size in Health Studies

Sample-size determination is often an important step in planning a health study—and it is usually a difficult one. Among the important hurdles to be surpassed, one must obtain an estimate of one or more error variances, and specify an effect size of importance. This paper offers some suggestions for successful and meaningful sample-size determination. Also discussed is the possibility that a sample size may not be the main issue and that the real goal is to design a high-quality study. Finally, criticism is made of some ill-advised shortcuts relating to testing power and sample size

Acne Vulgaris Awareness and Impact on Quality of Life and Psychological Status of Adolescent School Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Severe psychological impairment is found among 7.3% of adolescents with no difference between sexes

Iodized Salt Consumption in Sudan: Present Status and Future Directions

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Control Programme in Sudan adopted salt iodization as the long-term strategy in 1994. In 2000, it was found that less than 1% of households were using adequately-iodized salt. The objectives of this study were to: (i) study the coverage and variation of different geographical regions of Sudan regarding access to and use of iodized salt, (ii) explore the possible factors which influence the use of iodized salt, (iii) develop recommendations to help in the implementation of the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) strategy in Sudan. This paper is based on the Sudan Household Health Survey (SHHS) dataset. A total sample of 24,507 households was surveyed, and 18,786 cooking salt samples were tested for iodine levels with rapid salt-testing kits. Nationally, the percentage of households using adequately-iodized salt increased from less than 1% in 2000 to 14.4%, with wide variations between states. Access to iodized salt ranged from 96.9% in Central Equatoria to 0.4% in Gezira state. Population coverage with iodized salt in Sudan remains very low. The awareness and political support for USI programme is very weak. National legislation banning the sale of non-iodized salt does not exist. Utilization of the already-existing laws, like the National Standardization and Metrology Law (2008), to develop a compulsory national salt specification, will accelerate the USI in Sudan

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Brucellosis in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: Brucellosis is responsible for considerable public health issues involving economic losses due to abortion, loss of milk production and infertility in adult males. The purpose of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia and assess the possible risk factors.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in three geographical areas of Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The study sample included 400 participants from randomly selected primary health care centres. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics and risk factors for brucellosis. A 5 ml blood sample was collected from each study participant. The SPSS statistical program was utilised for data analysis.Results: The overall sero-prevalence of brucellosis in Jazan Province was 13.4 % and was higher among participants ≥ 40 years old (20 %) than those &lt; 40 years (12 %). Prevalence was significantly higher among rural (39.3 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 29.8 – 49.7) than urban populations (4.6 %; 95 % CI, 2.7 – 7.9), in Saudis (14.5 %; 95 % CI, 11.1 – 18.8) than non-Saudis (3.0 %; 95 % CI, 7.0 – 15.3) and in males (16.4 %; 95 % CI, 12.2 – 21.6) than females (7.1 %; 95 % CI, 3.7 – 13.4).Conclusion: These results indicate the need for a vaccination program in Jazan Province and for public awareness campaign activities to combat and eradicate the disease.Keywords: Sero-prevalence, Brucellosis, Milk, Vaccination, Public awareness campaig

Effect of Healthy Lifestyle Interventions in Schools of Jazan City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Quasi-experimental Study

Background Unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle among adolescents is considered as a risk factor for nutrition-related diseases in adulthood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle intervention—including physical activity (PA) and eating habits (EH)—among female students in Jizan City, southwest Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods A representative sample of 565 school students aged 12–15 years was randomly selected from four schools in Jizan, KSA. The PA and EH were assessed using a validated self-administered questionnaire. A pre-post quasi-experimental study was implemented in three phases. Results Following the intervention, the school children in the intervention groups showed a significant improvement in their EH and PA. These improvements were documented in increased physical walking measured by the number of students walking daily, the number of days walked, and the time spent on vigorous activities (54.11 ± 54.89 to 63.24 ± 76.16). Fruits and vegetables had a similar consumption frequency in both the intervention and control groups. The snacks were frequently consumed among intervention group with a significant increase in the mean number from 1.64 ± 0.93 to 1.96 ± 1.13 (p = 0.000) and fast food were less frequently consumed among intervention group than the control group (p = 0.000). The prevalence of obesity in the intervention group was reduced from 16.3% to 12.9%, while it was significantly increased from 17.6% to 19.0% in the control group (p = 0.0148). Weight decreased by 0.37 kg in the intervention group, while it increased by 0.07 kg in the control group, but with no statistically significant increase. Conclusion: In conclusion, healthy lifestyle interventions can improve short- and long-term outcomes in school children. When examining the health benefits of healthy lifestyle, the importance of dietary and PA behaviors should be considered. Keywords:&nbsp; lifestyle, dietary habits, physical activity, chronic diseases, Jazan-KSA &nbsp

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women in Jazan Region- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Hepatitis B virus is one of the major etiological agents for parenterally acquired hepatitis. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is associated with high risk of maternal complications. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBV infection in pregnant women, and to find out its associated risk factors in Jazan region south KSA. Patients &amp; Methods: A random sample of 537 pregnant females who attended Jazan general hospital and randomly selected primary health care centers in Jazan region - before 38 weeks of gestation - constituted the target population of the present study. All women were screened for HBsAgd by using HBsAg Rapid Test Device (ACON). Results: The overall prevalence of HBV virus among the women was found to be 4.1% (95% CI: 2.7 - 6.1). The prevalence of HBV according to age showed that women less than 20 years are free of HBV, whereas for other age groups HBV prevalence is found to increase with increase in age. Regarding the associated risk factors, women  with  history of hospitalization, and  jaundices showed a significant association with anti- HBV seropositive. Dental histories, blood transfusion and history of surgery did not prove significant association with  HBV. Conclusion: Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant ladies was 4.1%. Past history of hospitalization and jaundices are important risk factors for transmission of infection. The study suggests expansion of the Hepatitis B vaccination program to reduce the risk of HBV among pregnant women. Key words: Hepatitis B virus, Pregnancy, Prevalence, Risk factors

Effects of a Home-Based Physical Activity Programme on Blood Biomarkers and Health-Related Quality of Life Indices in Saudi Arabian Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is renowned for its high incidence of type-2 diabetes mellitus, with a prevalence rate of around 33%, which is expected to increase to 45.8% by 2030. Engagement in regular physical activity has been shown to significantly attenuate non-communicable diseases including type-2 diabetes. However, the overall rate of physical inactivity among Saudi Arabian adults is currently 80.5%, owing to time pressures, high-density traffic, poor air quality, lack of suitable exercise places/sports facilities, lack of social/friends support, gender, cultural barriers, low self-confidence, lack of time and environmental factors. Previous analyses have shown that home-based activity interventions can be effective. Therefore, given the aforementioned barriers to physical activity in Saudi Arabia; a home-based physical activity may be an ideal solution in type-2 diabetic patients. This manuscript describes the study protocol for a randomized control trial, examining the effects of a home-based physical activity intervention in Saudi Arabian adults with type-2 diabetes. The study will recruit 62 individuals with type-2 diabetes from the Jazan region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who will be individually randomized to either a physical activity or control group. This 24-week investigation will involve 12-weeks of physical activity in the physical activity group and feature three examination points i.e., baseline, 12-weeks and 24-weeks (follow-up). The primary study outcome is the between-group difference in blood HbA1c levels relative to controls. Secondary outcomes measures will be between-group differences in anthropometric, blood lipid, physical fitness, and patient-reported quality of life outcomes pertinent to type-2 diabetes. Statistical analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial has been granted ethical approval by Jazan University, Health Research Ethics Committee (REF: 2177) and formally registered as a trial (NCT04937296). We expect dissemination of the study findings from this investigation to be through publication in a leading peer-reviewed journal.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Prevalence and awareness of anabolic androgenic steroid use among male body builders in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To examine the prevalence and awareness of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among male bodybuilders visiting gyms in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 male bodybuilders visiting gyms in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Information on demographics, as well as the use of AAS, was included in a self-administered questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of AAS in Jazan was 31.0 % (95 % CI, 26.9 - 49.6), and it was higher among those in the 30 - 34 years 45.3 % (95 % CI, 36.9 - 54.0). Its prevalence was also significantly higher among athletes who received higher education 37.4% (95 % CI, 31.8 - 43.4). The most common types of AAS used are Deca-Durabolin (57.6 %) and testosterone (52 %). Thirty percent of the participants who used AAS suffered from depression and aggressive behavior while 18 % of them were hypertensive. The participants were not well aware of the adverse effects of anabolic steroids use.Conclusion: The prevalence of the anabolic steroids is high among bodybuilding males visiting gyms in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Health educational programs are required to increase the awareness about the side effects of anabolic steroids among bodybuilders.Keywords: Anabolic steroids, Bodybuilders, Deca-durabolin, Testosteron

Patient Satisfaction and Its Predictors in the General Hospitals of Southwest Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Survey

Background: Patient satisfaction occupies a central position in measuring the quality of care as it provides information on the provider's success, meeting the patient’s values and expectations. Hence, it is an essential tool for assessing health services outcomes. This study aimed to assess patients' satisfaction level and factors influencing healthcare quality of general hospitals in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 423 patients selected through stratified random sampling from general hospitals of the Jazan region. Results: The overall satisfaction rate among the study participants was 80.9%. Satisfaction with food services was the highest (91.15%) followed by doctor services (81.0%), reception and entry procedures (80%), and nursing services (78.15%). The various aspects of satisfaction with doctors and nurses included the treatment prescribed by physicians, clarity in communication with patients, compassion and providing clear explanation of what they were doing. However, about 27.3% of the patients were dissatisfied with the length of waiting period before seeing a doctor. Binary logistic regression analysis suggested that uneducated patients and patients with secondary school education were more likely to have higher satisfaction level than university-educated patients (OR = 3.40, 95% C.I. [1.56–7.45], p = 0.002), (OR = 2.66, 95% C.I. [1.28–5.55], p = 0.009), and (OR = 2.29, 95% C.I. [1.40–3.73], p = 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The health services satisfaction level was high in the Jazan population. However, some aspects of dissatisfaction were reported, such as the long waiting period before seeing a doctor. These aspects are recommended to be improved to ensure that the services provided by general hospitals are of high quality