Saudi Women's Knowledge and Attitude toward Cervical Cancer Screening, Treatment, and Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study in Qassim Region (2018-2019).

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease if early diagnosed; however, most of the cases present late; hence, there is a need to raise the awareness about cervical cancer and to establish screening programs. We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward screening and to determine the current status of awareness among women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 2,220 Saudi women in the Qassim region using a validated questionnaire that gathers data on socio-demographics, knowledge and attitude domains. RESULTS: Among the participants, 952 (42.9%) were between 31 and 45 years old; most were married and highly educated 1,754 (79%), and showed moderate knowledge about cervical cancer symptoms, prevention, and screening. The most reported symptom was non-cyclic bleeding by 511 (23%), while prolonged use of contraceptives 289 (13%) was the more selected risk factor by participants. We found that 1,881 (84.7%) of women had not undergone a Pap smear test, and 805 participants (42.8%) expressed their refusal to attend for it, citing various reasons; the most reported was that they do not know someone who tried pap smear. A significant negative correlation was found between the level of knowledge and acceptance to vaccinate daughters at school age against human papillomavirus. CONCLUSION: Saudi women in the Qassim region have moderate awareness of cervical cancer but negative attitudes toward screening. Awareness campaigns are needed to promote knowledge and improve pap smear attendance to eliminate negative perceptions and beliefs.

In - Vitro activity of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf successive extracts against Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates.

Helicobacter pylori are well acknowledged as a major cause of gastrointestinal ailments and gastric cancers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential in vitro activity of Desmostachya bipinnata against H. pylori, focusing on the determination of the most active extract responsible for the anti-helicobacter activity to produce new active drug from natural source. Desmostachya bipinnata total alcohol and successive extracts were in vitro tested against H. pylori. All extracts showed promising anti Helicobacter pylori activities. The most effective extract was diethyl ether extract, it showed 75% growth inhibition of the clinical Isolates bacterial Helicobacter pylori, in addition it showed high count reduction on the selected organisms in the different concentrations used (2xMIC, MIC & ½ MIC) compared with the untreated controls as well as the other extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol). The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of the alcohol extract of the plant by doses up to 5000 mg/kg didn't showed any mortality or morbidity, in addition no side effects were recorded on both liver and kidney functions this means that the extract was safe for use.