Meningococcal, influenza virus, and hepatitis B virus vaccination coverage level among health care workers in Hajj

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to assess the compliance of health care workers (HCWs) employed in Hajj in receiving the meningococcal, influenza, and hepatitis B vaccines. Methods A cross-sectional survey of doctors and nurses working in all Mena and Arafat hospitals and primary health care centers who attended Hajj-medicine training programs immediately before the beginning of Hajj of the lunar Islamic year 1423 (2003) using self-administered structured questionnaire which included demographic data and data on vaccination history. Results A total of 392 HCWs were studied including 215 (54.8%) nurses and 177 (45.2%) doctors. One hundred and sixty four (41.8%) HCWs were from Makkah and the rest were recruited from other regions in Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and twenty three (82.4%) HCWs received the quadrivalent (ACYW135) meningococcal meningitis vaccine with 271 (83.9%) HCWs receiving it at least 2 weeks before coming to Hajj, whereas the remaining 52 (16.1%) HCWs received it within Conclusion The meningococcal and hepatitis B vaccination coverage level among HCWs in Hajj was suboptimal and the influenza vaccination level was notably low. Strategies to improve vaccination coverage among HCWs should be adopted by all health care facilities in Saudi Arabia.</p

Trends in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia: compliance with WHO recommendations

<b>Background and Objective: </b> The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life. Our objective was to evaluate trends in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia and the degree of compliance with WHO recommendations. <b> Subjects and Methods: </b> A nationwide nutritional survey of a sample of Saudi households was selected by the multistage probability sampling procedure. A validated questionnaire was administered to mothers of chil--dren less than 3 years of age. <b> Results: </b> Of 5339 children in the sample, 4889 received breast milk at birth indicating a prevalence of initia--tion of 91.6&#x0025;. Initiation of breastfeeding was delayed beyond 6 hours after birth in 28.1&#x0025; of the infants. Bottle feeding was introduced by 1 month of age to 2174/4260 (51.4&#x0025;) and to 3831/4260 (90&#x0025;) by 6 months of age. The majority of infants 3870/4787 (80.8&#x0025;) were introduced to "solid foods" between 4 to 6 months of age and whole milk feedings were given to 40&#x0025; of children younger than 12 months of age. <b> Conclusions: </b> The current practice of feeding of Saudi infants is very far from compliance with even the most conservative WHO<b> </b> recommendations of exclusive breastfeeding for 4 to 6 months. The high prevalence of breastfeeding initiation at birth indicates the willingness of Saudi mothers to breastfeed. However, early intro--duction of complementary feedings reduced the period of exclusive breastfeeding. Research in infant nutrition should be a public health priority to improve the rate of breastfeeding and to minimize other inappropriate practices

Prevalence and correlates of diarrhea

Objective: The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of acute diarrhea and its correlates in remote rural villages of south Pakistan.Methods: The authors selected 1878 children less than 3 years of age through stratified random sampling from 64 villages having the number of children enrolled proportionate to the size of each village, in rural Sindh, Pakistan. Trained field workers completed child physical measurements and maternal interviews.Results: Among the children examined, 961 (51%) had diarrhea in the preceding 14 days prior to the date of survey. The prevalence of diarrhea was marginally higher among girls than boys (53% versus 49%, odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 0.98, 1.41). The factors related with higher prevalence of diarrhea were lack of education of mother, lack of exclusive breast feeding, breast feeding for less than one year, roundworm infestation, low weight-for height, night blindness, female sex and number of older siblings more than 2 in the family.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the acute diarrhea is major problem among children in rural Pakistan. Appropriate intervention programmes should be formulated focused on identified risk factors