Correlation of iron levels with glycemia and microvascular complications among type II diabetes mellitus patients in Najran university hospital.

Background: Diabetes is influenced by changes in the body's iron levels. Because iron deficiency anemia is common in diabetes, this study examines the link between iron, glycemic control, and complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted from October 2019 to June 2020 at Najran university hospital in the Najran area, Saudi Arabia. All T2DM patients (N = 201) during the study were recruited by simple random sampling. A checklist was completed to extract the study variables from each patient's medical record. Results: There is a positive poor correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and diabetic foot (r = 0.186, P < 0.05), but not with other diabetic microvascular complications (i.e., retinopathy, nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy) or glycemic indicators fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C (i.e., FBS, RBS, and HbA1C). No link is found between ferritin and glycemic indicators or diabetic microvascular complications. Conclusion: The study suggests that particular attention be paid to regular monitoring of iron levels before modifying the treatment plans for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. It raises critical inquiry about the reality of iron role in diabetes mellitus either in pathogenesis or treatment. It recommends accurately assessing body iron status with careful interpretation for better clinical judgment, encouraging large-scale and long-term epidemiological as well as interventional trials examining the effect of lowering iron in controlling glycemia.

Predictors of breast self-examination behavior among adult females in Najran city, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the predictors of breast self-examination (BSE) behavior among adult females in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was utilized to recruit 1,075 participants from the primary health centers in Najran city, Saudi Arabia, from the beginning of March to the end of October 2021. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection; it consisted of demographic data and health history, breast cancer knowledge test and protection motivation theory (PMT) scale. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software, version 23 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: Only 38.2% of the study participants had ever-performed BSE. Participants' knowledge, education, previous family history of breast cancer, and personal history of benign breast tumors are significant socio-demographic predictors of BSE behavior (p < .001). Also, the higher threats appraisal, reward appraisal, and efficacy appraisal increased the participants' probability of practicing BSE (p < .001) compared to a low level as references based on binary logistic regression results. In addition, low response cost was another predictor for BSE behavior compared with higher levels (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Participants' knowledge, education, previous family history of breast cancer, and the PMT constructs (threats appraisal, reward appraisal, efficacy appraisal, and response cost) were significant predictors of BSE behavior.

Empowering Saudi women in higher educational institutions: Development and validation of a novel women empowerment scale.

The government in Saudi Arabia in 2016 declared the necessity to overcome the ancestral oil-based economy and move towards a more diversified model. One of the significant steps to achieve this goal is to empower Saudi women, who form half of the Saudi population, to actively contribute their much-needed talents and skills to the Saudi labour market. However, there is a scarcity of existing scales to measure women empowerment in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to construct and validate a reliable novel scale for the empowerment of Saudi women employed in higher education institutions. A methodological study was conducted from January to April 2020 among Saudi women academic and administrative staff (n=160) working in the higher educational institutions located in the northwestern and southern regions of Saudi Arabia. The tool underwent content and face validity as well as factor analyses. Internal consistency was analyzed through Cronbach's alpha and Pearson correlation coefficient. The data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 23. A Cronbach's alpha value of 0.94 was obtained in reliability analysis. The results showed that the total women empowerment scale had an exceptional internal consistency (>9). The three domains of the scale and total woman empowerment scale had a score close to 1, indicating a high Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, and showed a high similarity between values at the second and third measurements. Self-esteem and self-efficacy subscales were the most important indicators of women's' personal empowerment. Furthermore, a highly positive correlation (p <0.01) was found between the total domains of empowerment scale. A novel women empowerment tool was developed and validated in Saudi women working as academic and administrative staff. This can serve as a reliable tool to measure women's empowerment in higher education institutions. It will eventually enable the formulation of strategies that facilitate women's empowerment and pave the path for a strong foundation for the development of the country.

Predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitude among Saudi academic and administrative staff: A cross-sectional study.

The KSA 2030 vision makes special reference to women's empowerment as an important strategy for Saudi community transformation. Studies related to women's empowerment, especially in the Saudi context, are still not enough and unclear. The current study explored the predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitudes among Saudi academic and administrative staff. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 Saudi government-owned universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 5587 participants during the period April to September 2020. The study instrument consisting of three main parts; basic demographic data, questionnaire assessed the knowledge regarding women's empowerment, and women empowerment attitude scale. The results showed good knowledge of empowerment among the women with 75.5% of the participants demonstrating good knowledge. The total women empowerment attitude was positive among 65.9% of the participants. The association between demographic data and women empowerment knowledge and attitude showed a significant association with marital status, residence, education, and occupation (p <0.05). Linear regression on marital status, education, residence, and occupation, are confirmed as significant predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitude (p <0.05). Mother's education level is shown as a predictor for women empowerment attitude (p>0.005). Three-quarters of Saudi academic and administrative staff have a good women empowerment knowledge score, and more than two-thirds have a positive attitude. Demographic characteristics are important predictors for women empowerment knowledge and attitude. The results of this study will help decision-makers to design and implement goal-directed women empowerment programs.

Perceived and real barriers to workplace empowerment among women at Saudi universities: A cross-sectional study.

Academic women in the Arab world, especially Saudi women, have numerous barriers inhibiting their leadership power at the workplace. The current study explores the perceived and real barriers to workplace empowerment among women at Saudi universities. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at 15 Saudi governmental universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was followed to select (5587 participants) The data collection started from the beginning of April to the beginning of September 2020. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze data using descriptive statistics. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the real barriers to women empowerment at the workplace. The study showed that 52.1% of the study participants had moderate workplace empowerment, and only 10.2% have a low level. Regarding perceived barriers to workplace empowerment, 42.6% of the participants agree that male dominance was a barrier. Moreover, 36.2% of the participants agreed and strongly agree that the customs and traditions are a barrier to women empowerment at the workplace. Multiple linear regression showed that age, followed by years of experience (p <0.000), were the most significant demographic predictors of women empowerment at the workplace. Moreover, positive attitude, high self-esteem, and good knowledge (p <0.000) were considered other variables that positively predict women's empowerment at the workplace. The experience of gender-based violence (p <0.000) was a negative predictor of women empowerment at the workplace. The study concluded that around 62.3% of Saudi female academics and administrative staff have moderate or low workplace empowerment at Saudi Universities. Male dominance is perceived as the highest barrier.

Women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi universities: A cross-sectional study.

Women in Saudi Arabia constitute nearly 50% of the population, but their participation in economic and social activities are far below the kingdom's potential. According to the 2030 vision, women empowerment is an essential requirement for community transformation and development. The study aims to explore women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi Universities. A cross-sectional research design was conducted at 15 Saudi governmental universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was followed to select 5587 participants. The data collection starts from April to September 2020. The current study results illustrate statistically significant differences between academic and administrative staff in the total women empowerment score and all of its dimensions (p <0.05). The majority of academic staff (84.4%) have high personal empowerment compared to 73.7% of the administrative staff. The study concluded that women empowerment is higher among academics compared to administrative staff in Saudi Universities.

The role of self-esteem and self-efficacy in women empowerment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to explore the role of self-esteem and self-efficacy in women empowerment among academic and administrative staff at Saudi universities. A cross-sectional design was carried out at 15 governmental universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 5587 participants. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the predictive relation. Data collection included socio-demographic variables, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, general self-efficacy scale, and women empowerment scale. The results indicated that study participants' self-esteem was equally distributed between moderate (49.8%) and high (50.2%). Also, 66.9% of the participants had high self-efficacy, and 86.8% had high total women's empowerment. Regression coefficient showed that self-esteem (B=0.521, b=0.127, t=13.785 and p <0.001) and self-efficacy (B=2.388, b=0.702, t=76.049 and p <0.001) are important predictors of the total women empowerment. However, self-efficacy was observed to be the most dominant predictor (t=76.049). The total model summary shows that 73.4% of the women empowerment level can be predicted through self-esteem and self-efficacy. The study results can be used as a base to build women empowerment programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and help to achieve the 2030 KSA vision regarding women empowerment.

COVID-19 Outbreak: Effect of an Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model on Nursing Students' Awareness and Health Beliefs at Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) about COVID- 19 on nursing students' awareness and health beliefs. A true-experimental research design was conducted at nursing college, Najran University, KSA. A comprehensive sampling was followed to include all female students at the colleges (164 students). The sample was divided randomly into intervention (82) and control group (82). The educational intervention was designed and conducted based on the HBM through four sequential phases: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The current study results indicated no statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups concerning their demographic characteristic, awareness, and health beliefs before intervention. After intervention, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between intervention and control groups in their awareness and all HBM constructs regarding COVID19. There were positive, statistically significant correlations (P < 0.05) between participants' total HBM score and their total awareness score. This study concluded that HBM is effective in increasing nursing students' awareness regarding COVID-19. It also increases their perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits. Besides, it may increase their self-efficacy to overcome perceived barriers to practice protective and preventive actions while dealing with COVID-19.

Seroprevalence of Zika virus among asymptomatic pregnant mothers and their newborns in the Najran region of southwest Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a teratogenic flavivirus that can cause microcephaly. Its main vector, Aedes aegypti, has been previ.ously identified in Saudi Arabia, but no ZIKV infection has yet been reported. Nevertheless, the country is at risk from ZIKV because it receives many travelers throughout the year, including pilgrims from ZIKV-endemic countries. OBJECTIVES: Screen asymptomatic pregnant mothers and their newborns attending a major hospital in the Najran region for subclinical or past infections with ZIKV, using ELISA and RT-PCR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Najran Maternity and Children Hospital (NMCH). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All pregnant women admitted to NMCH in labor between November 2016 and July 2017 were included in the study. Clinical and demographic data were collected by pre-validated physician-administered questionnaires. Paired umbilical and maternal serum samples were collected and frozen at -60°C, using ELISA to measure anti-ZIKA IgG and IgM antibodies and RT-PCR to further investigate positive samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and newborn serum anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG and ZIKV RT-PCR. SAMPLE SIZE: 410 mother-newborn pairs. RESULTS: The median gestational age was 38.5 weeks (range 33-42). Most (n=342, 83.41%) of the women were from Najran city. All of the newborns had normal growth parameters with no congenital malformations. None of the mothers had symptoms suggestive of ZIKV infection; 3 (0.7%) exhibited a low-grade fever (38°C), but did not test positive for anti-ZIKV antibodies. Thirty-five (8.53%) of mothers had travelled inside Saudi Arabia, but none outside the country. Twenty-four (5.85%) mothers tested positive for anti-ZIKV IgM and 52 (12.68%) tested positive for anti-ZIKV IgG, but all infant samples were negative. All seropositive ZIKV IgM were also ZIKV IgG positive, but RT-PCR test.ing of all seropositive samples was negative. CONCLUSION: Although previous (resolved) ZIKV infection and cross-reactivity of the ELISA method with other flaviviruses cannot be ex.cluded, the study found no confirmed cases of acute ZIKV infection. However, given the presence of the vector in Saudi Arabia, the presence of presumptive positive serology and the ongoing risk of ZIKV entry via a regular influx of travelers from endemic areas, we propose that continuous surveillance be conducted for ZIKV as well for other flaviviruses. Larger-scale nationwide studies are strongly recommended to gain a broader view of the potential threat from ZIKV in the country. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, unavailability of plaque reduction neutralization tests to confirm serology results, and RT-PCR was only conducted on ELISA-positive serum samples, due to resource constraints. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Late Diagnosis of 5-α-Reductase Type 2 Deficiency in an Adolescent Girl with Primary Amenorrhoea.

Deficiency of the 5-α-reductase enzyme has been found to affect male sexual development. We report an 18-year-old patient who was referred to an endocrinology clinic in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, in April 2014 with primary amenorrhoea, virilisation and a lack of secondary sex characteristics. As female external genitalia were present at birth, she had been raised as a female. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed no uterine or ovarian tissue in the pelvis and the presence of a scrotal sac. She was diagnosed with 5-α-reductase type 2 deficiency, a 46,XY disorder of sexual development. Typically, affected males have pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias and ambiguous genitalia at birth. Individuals who have been raised as female manifest characteristics of virilisation at puberty, including deepening of the vocal tone, phallus enlargement, scrotal hyperpigmentation and increased muscle mass.