Eating Behaviors during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders are complex illnesses with serious long-term consequences. They are linked to negative outcomes such as miscarriage, low birth weight, and other obstetric and postpartum difficulties. Our study in Muscat, Oman, examines the eating habits of pregnant women who consult primary care physicians. In this study, our aim is to identify key sociodemographic factors linked with eating disorders in Oman. METHOD: We used the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire to assess the potential for the presence of eating disorders. Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact tests were used to analyze relationships between improper eating behavior and independent variables. RESULTS: The study showed that 1.6% of participants had a potential diagnosis of an eating disorder, with the most common inappropriate behavior being binge eating at a prevalence of 18.8%. A pre-gestational low Body Mass Index (BMI) was associated with a higher prevalence of binge eating during pregnancy. Additionally, we found that pregnant women who were working were more prone to self-induced vomiting. High BMI before pregnancy was significantly associated with various inappropriate eating behaviors, such as restraint behavior (p = 0.000), shape concern (p = 0.000), weight concern (p = 0.040), eating (p = 0.045), laxative use (p = 0.020), and excessive exercise (p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The study reveals a high prevalence of eating disorders in pregnancy. Less educated women exhibit higher laxative use, while working women show more instances of binge eating and self-induced vomiting. These findings emphasize the critical need to prioritize targeted interventions and support for vulnerable pregnant women.

The Quality of Life of Urban Omani People During the COVID-19 Pandemic in A'Seeb Wilayat: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: COVID-19 is an emergent disease with significant global concern, which might have a negative effect on quality of life. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of people (with or without COVID-19) attending primary health centers in A'Seeb Wilayat in Muscat, Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected primary health centers in A'Seeb Wilayat from 17 July 2021 to 31 January 2022. All Omani men and women, aged ≥ 18 years, regardless of their COVID-19 infection status, who were able to read and use online questionnaire, were included. The consecutive sampling method was applied. An online self-administered and validated Arabic version of the Short Form-12 was used to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical quality of life. Results: A total of 701 participants were included with a mean age of 25.3 years. Two-thirds of the participants (n = 473, 67.5%) reported being physically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (score of ≤ 50) and more than half (n = 392, 55.9%) had been mentally affected (score of ≤ 42). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between physical impact and educational level, low family income, chronic diseases, and alcohol consumption. Gender, young age, being single, low income, and chronic diseases were significant risk factors for mental impact. Conclusions: Physical and mental impacts are very common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several risk factors were identified. Public health programs need to be implemented to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on quality of life.

Effects of a Healthy Diet on Reducing Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome and Improving Quality of Life among Omani Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Open-Label Trial.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) continues to impact the health outcomes and emotional well-being of reproductive-age women, globally. Several studies have provided conflicting evidence concerning the role of dietary approaches in improving PMS symptoms. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the possible influence of a healthy diet and motivational strategies on PMS symptoms and health-related quality of life among Omani adolescents. This open-label, randomized, prospective controlled trial was conducted at two randomly selected secondary schools, in Al Seeb Willayah, in Muscat region. Adolescents with PMS symptoms, who were in grade 10 or 11, aged 16 years or above, had regular menstrual cycles, and were not known to have psychiatric disorder were included in this study. Participants in the intervention group received an individual face-to-face dietary consultation and motivational phone consultation. The health outcomes, including the PMS symptoms in both groups, and quality of life, were recorded using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems questionnaire (DRSP) and the 14-item Self-Reporting-Based Perceived Stress Scale tools, respectively. The primary outcome was the difference in the mean premenstrual symptom scores between the two groups. Secondary outcomes included the quality of life and stress levels of participants. The study period was from 1 February and ended 30 June 2021. SPSS was used to analyze the data, and intention-to-treat analysis was utilized. A total of 72 adolescents with PMS were randomized into intervention and control groups (n = 36 each). Both groups were similar at baseline (p-value > 0.05). No significant association was found between a healthy diet and PMS symptoms (p-value > 0.05). In addition, no significant association was found between a healthy diet and quality of life at follow-up (p-value = 0.216). The outcomes of this study refuted any possible relationships between a healthy diet and PMS symptoms. Accordingly, dietary consultations may not facilitate the clinical management of PMS symptoms in adolescent females.

Intimate Partner Violence in Khaliji Women: A Review of the Frequency and Related Factors.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7-71%), sexual (3.7-81%), financial (21.3-26%), and psychological (7.5-89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22-69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.

Management of Malignant Otitis Externa with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Case Series of 20 Patients.

Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is an aggressive infection of the external auditory canal that primarily affects diabetic patients. Some literature supports the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a treatment modality for MOE. A case series was conducted of all patients diagnosed with MOE and treated with HBOT at the Said Bin Sultan Naval Base Polyclinic in Oman between January 2014 and December 2019. A total of 20 patients were included in the study. All participants presented with persistent ear discharge, 95.0% with otalgia, and 75.0% with granulation in the external auditory canal. Moreover, 100% showed abnormally high levels of inflammatory markers and abnormal computed tomography findings. The patients underwent an average of 29.0±8.9 HBOT sessions. Overall, 19 (95.0%) patients were considered cured by the end of the treatment. The use of HBOT in the management of MOE appears promising and may cure MOE.

Inflammatory Markers as a Predictor of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Cross-sectional study from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

Objectives: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease resulting from oestrogen deficiency. Due to the silent nature of the disease, there is an urgent need for a simple, early predictive marker. This study aimed to assess the potential of three factors-neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)-as inflammatory markers of bone mineral density (BMD) loss. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 postmenopausal Omani women undergoing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from January 2017 to December 2019. The participants were allocated to groups based on lumbar spine BMD t-score values. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the area under the curve (AUC). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of low BMD. Results: A total of 65 (14.4%), 164 (36.4%) and 221 (49.1%) women were allocated to the control, osteopenia and osteoporosis groups, respectively. No significant differences in PLR, MLR and NLR values were observed among the groups. BMD t-score values were reversely correlated with age (P = 0.007) and PLR (P = 0.004) and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI; P <0.001). The AUC was 0.59. The independent predictors of low BMD were age (>65 years) and BMI (<25 kg/m2). Conclusion: None of the three inflammatory biomarkers studied were found to be useful prognostic indicators of bone loss. Further research is recommended to reject or support theories regarding the role of inflammatory status in the pathogenesis.

Discontinuation of hormonal contraception in Oman: prevalence and reasons.

BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives is an important contributor to unmet need of contraception. AIMS: To determine the discontinuation rate and the reasons for discontinuation of hormonal contraception among Omani women. METHODS: This was a 2-stage sampling, multicentre, retrospective cohort study conducted in 2018 at primary health care centres in Muscat Region, Oman. It included newly registered users of hormonal contraceptives in birth spacing clinics from January to December 2016 and the course of care over the following 12 months. A telephone interview was conducted to complement some of the missing data. The contraceptive methods available were combined oral contraceptives, progesterone only pills and injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. RESULTS: We included 404 women and 87.8% were breast-feeding. By the end of the first year, (268; 66.3%) women discontinued their contraceptive method. More than half (55.2% 148/268) of the discontinuation was attributed to adverse effects and the most prevalent was menstrual abnormality (102/268; 38.1%). Only 5.6% (15/268) discontinued contraception because they desired pregnancy. Partners and logistics of availability and access played a minimal role in discontinuation. Age and number of children did not influence the discontinuation rate. CONCLUSION: This study improves our knowledge about the rate of discontinuation of hormonal contraception and its related factors in Oman, which can be used for population-specific counselling. Future research should study the contraception behaviour of breast-feeding women to assess when and why they discontinue their contraceptive methods.

Factors Associated with Choice of Career in Family Medicine Among Junior Doctors in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: The number of family physicians in Oman is far below that recommended by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to determine factors influencing junior doctors' choice of a career in family medicine. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2018 and targeted applicants to Oman Medical Specialty Board residency programmes during the 2018-2019 academic year. Applicants were grouped according to their choice of either family medicine (n = 64) or other specialities (n = 81). A self-administered questionnaire was utilised to compare the applicants' sociodemographic characteristics, factors influencing their choice of career and their Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) personality traits. RESULTS: A total of 52 family medicine and 43 other residency applicants participated in the study (response rates: 81.3% and 53.1%, respectively). Most family medicine applicants were female (86.5%), married (65.4%) and resided in rural areas (73.1%); moreover, 19.2% were ≥30 years of age. Overall, emphasis on continuity of care, opportunity to deal with a variety of medical problems, the ability to use a wide range of skills and knowledge, early exposure to the discipline, opportunity to teach and perform research and the influence of family or friends were important factors in determining choice of a career in family medicine. Moreover, the MBTI analysis revealed that family medicine applicants were commonly extroverted-sensing-thinking-judging personality types. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the factors influencing career choice among junior doctors may be useful in determining future admission policies in order to increase the number of family physicians in Oman.

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Use in Primary Health Care Centers in A'Seeb, Muscat: A Clinical Audit.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the trend of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in primary health care institutions located in A'Seeb, a province in the capital city of Oman, Muscat. Additionally, we evaluated the relationship between a physician's years of experience and the number of prescription issued, as well as the presence of risk factors and side effects in the patients who received these prescriptions. METHOD: A clinical audit was conducted in four primary health care centers in the Muscat region over a one-week period in April 2014. The target population included patients aged 18 years or over who attended one of the four health centers and were prescribed NSAIDs. Overall, 272 patients were recruited by systematic random sampling. The data were collected by two methods: direct face-to-face interviews and evaluations of the patient's electronic medical file. The prescribing doctors were blind to the audit. The collected information included patients demographics, past and current medical history of related comorbidities, NSAID type, dose, duration and indications for use, concomitant warfarin or/and aspirin prescriptions, and co-prescription of gastroprotective agents. RESULTS: In total, 15% of patients received an NSAID prescription: females were issued more prescriptions than males. The percentage of patients who received an NSAID prescription across the health centers ranged from 9% to 24%. The main reason for prescribing NSAIDs was musculoskeletal problems. The most frequently prescribed NSAID was ibuprofen. Sixteen percent of patients who received an NSAID prescription had a risk factor related to its use. The mean and median duration of the NSAID prescriptions of all types were 5.6 and 5.0 days, respectively. Physicians with a greater number of years experience prescribed more NSAIDs. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the number of prescriptions of NSAIDs among various institutes varied, which could reflect the level of awareness concerning NSAID risks among the prescribing doctors. NSAIDs were prescribed for patients with comorbidities and patients with previously documented side effects without considering protective agents. Therefore, we suggest that the use of these medications is controlled, especially in high-risk populations.

Impact of acne on quality of life of students at sultan qaboos university.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of acne on the quality of life. Its secondary objective was to assess the influence of gender of students and severity of symptoms on the quality of life. . METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 100 students at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) (40 males and 60 females) diagnosed with acne who attended the Student Clinic during a period of three months from September to December 2009. The Acne Quality Of Life index (Acne-QoL) questionnaire was used to assess the patient's quality of life in four different domains: self-perception, social, emotional, and acne symptoms. . RESULTS: Acne affected all areas of the patients, quality of life with the emotional domain found to be the most affected. Overall, female patients reported more adverse QoL effects. The mean score for self-perception for female students was 2.5 and 2.8 for males (p=0.300). The role-social domain approached a significant difference between genders (p=0.078). There was a statistically significant correlation between severity of acne symptoms and the other three domains. The correlation was highest between acne symptoms score and self-perception score. . CONCLUSION: This study showed that acne affects the quality of life of affected SQU students treated by primary care physicians at the Student Clinic. Therefore, physicians should take into account the effect of acne on the persons' quality of life when individualizing treatment.

Self-Reported Knowledge of Diabetes among High School Students in Al-Amerat and Quriyat, Muscat Governate, Oman.

OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is emerging as one of the world's greatest health problems, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing at an alarming rate and globally reaching epidemic proportions. With this increasing incidence, emphasis is now being placed on implementing primary prevention, early detection, and educational prevention programmes. This study was undertaken to estimate the level of knowledge of T2DM among high school students and to explore the factors influencing the knowledge of T2DM. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools in two wilayats (districts) of Muscat governate, Oman, namely Al-Amerat and Quriyat. The study was conducted using a validated English questionnaire covering all aspects of T2DM in one-to-one interviews. A scoring system was used to assess the students' knowledge. RESULTS: Of the 541 students enrolled in the study (45% male and 55% female), only 24% achieved a score of over 10 out of 20. The key areas of poor knowledge were wrong perceptions about diabetic meals (73%), and the possibility of a cure for diabetes (63%). CONCLUSION: Overall poor knowledge levels about T2DM were found among school students. National efforts and school-health-based interventions are highly recommended to increase awareness about diabetes among this age group.