The health of Saudi youths: current challenges and future opportunities.

BACKGROUND: The health status of the young people is an important indicator for future health and health care needs of the next generation. In order to understand the health risk factors of Saudi youth, we analyzed data from a large national survey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The Saudi Health Information Survey sample included 2382 youths aged 15 to 24 years old. The questionnaire included information on socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors, risky behaviors, chronic conditions, functional status, health care utilization, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. RESULTS: Only 45.9% of men and 48.4% of women had normal body mass index (BMI). Men were more likely than women to smoke cigarettes or shisha. The prevalence of daily consumption of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables was 6.6%. The prevalence of no or insufficient physical activity was 41.8% in men and 75.6% in women (P < 0.001). Around 40% of men and 25% of women had abnormal blood pressure. Mean BMI and prevalence of insufficient physical activity, current smoking, and hypertension washigher in 20-to 24-year-olds than younger ages. Women were more likely to report that they never use seatbelts (82.2% vs. 65.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of modifiable risk factors and risky driving behaviors is very high among Saudi youth. If these current behaviors are not reversed during this crucial age period, the burden of disease and injuries will rise in the future. Our findings call for developing health prevention programs for youths in Saudi Arabia.

Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever in humans, Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Alkhurma virus is a flavivirus, discovered in 1994 in a person who died of hemorrhagic fever after slaughtering a sheep from the city of Alkhurma, Saudi Arabia. Since then, several cases of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (ALKHF), with fatality rates up to 25%, have been documented. From January 1, 2006, through April 1, 2009, active disease surveillance and serologic testing of household contacts identified ALKHF in 28 persons in Najran, Saudi Arabia. For epidemiologic comparison, serologic testing of household and neighborhood controls identified 65 serologically negative persons. Among ALKHF patients, 11 were hospitalized and 17 had subclinical infection. Univariate analysis indicated that the following were associated with Alkhurma virus infection: contact with domestic animals, feeding and slaughtering animals, handling raw meat products, drinking unpasteurized milk, and being bitten by a tick. After multivariate modeling, the following associations remained significant: animal contact, neighboring farms, and tick bites.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go: Levels of Physical Activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013.

BACKGROUND: With the lack of appropriate data, we conducted a large household survey in 2013 to determine current rates of physical activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: The Saudi Health Interview Survey is a national multistage survey of individuals aged 15 years or older. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to measure association between sociodemographic and selected characteristics and meeting the recommended levels of moderate and vigorous weekly physical activity. RESULTS: Of a total of 12,000 households contacted, 10,735 (89.4%) participants completed Saudi Health Interview Survey. An estimated 4.5 million (34.5%) Saudis aged 15 years or older reported no weekly physical activity, while only 1.7 million (12.9%) meet the recommended levels of moderate physical activity (MPA). The likelihood of meeting MPA decreased with age, education, among women, those with a history of diagnosis of select chronic conditions, including diabetes. Similar results were found for the likelihood of meeting the recommended levels of vigorous weekly physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: We found very low levels of physical activity in KSA. Perhaps, KSA can challenge communities or employers to devise solutions and reward those with the best results. These solutions would be of great value to other Gulf countries, as well.

Geographical distribution and spatio-temporal patterns of dengue cases in Jeddah Governorate from 2006-2008.

BACKGROUND: Dengue remains a major health problem in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A surveillance system was initiated to detect new cases in 2006. The study aims to examine these data for detection of space-time clustering and identify target areas for effective interventions. METHODS: Through a cross-sectional design, we included all confirmed dengue cases among residents of Jeddah with a clearly written addresses (n = 2288). Cases were geo-coded at the district level, and then analyzed by ArcGIS for geographical distribution and by the space-time permutation model of SaTScan for detection of clusters of cases. RESULTS: This study showed a seasonal pattern of dengue infections mainly in the first half of the year. Males and younger age-groups were more likely to be affected (70.8 and 67.3%, respectively). Descriptive spatial analysis showed that the infection was concentrated in the south and central-north regions. Space-time permutation scan statistics demonstrated five spatio-temporal clusters of dengue cases with no variations by age-groups, gender and nationality-group. Our results showed clear geographical patterns of dengue in Jeddah. CONCLUSIONS: Our unique data with geographical coding enabled us to detect and target dengue clusters that support the use of geospatial information in infection control in Saudi Arabia and would allow for better targeting of interaction progress.

Pattern of diseases among visitors to Mina health centers during the Hajj season, 1429 H (2008 G).

BACKGROUND: While performing the Hajj, hajjis face different risks related to the environment, their behaviors and their health conditions that can result in a variety of diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of diseases among pilgrims seeking medical services in Mina primary health care centers (PHCCs) during the Hajj season in 1429 (2008). METHODS: This is a descriptive study based on the medical records of a random sample of 4136 patients who attended 13 randomly selected Mina PHCCs from 8 to 12 Dhu-Alhijja, 1429 H (6-10 December 2008). RESULTS: The majority of the patients were men (70.7%), and most of the patients were between 45 and 64 years of age (42.8%). One-fifth (20.2%) of the patients suffered from multiple diseases. Respiratory diseases were the most common (60.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (17.6%), skin (15.0%) and gastrointestinal (13.1%) diseases. Diabetes, asthma and hypertension each constituted less than 3% of the total diseases. Respiratory diseases were the most common independent of nationality or the day of visit, while the frequency of the other diseases varied according to nationality and the day of visit. The most frequently prescribed drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics and cough syrups. CONCLUSION: This study describes the pattern of diseases among pilgrims attending Mina PHCCs, which may aid in providing the best possible health care services to pilgrims.

Evaluation of syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: STIs can lead to acute symptoms, chronic infection and serious delayed consequences such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer and the untimely death of infants and adults. OBJECTIVES: To identify the points of strength and weakness in the system for management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pattern of distribution of reported cases in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Data of 5377 reported cases of STIs from all regions of the kingdom during the year 2009 were collected. The original data collection sheets were collected from primary health care centers in all regions of the kingdom, entered into Epi-Info software computer program, organized and statically analyzed. RESULTS: Average monthly reporting was variable between 163.4 cases and 3.3 cases. Age group of 20-40 represented 70.7% of reported cases with the majority Saudis (92%), females (92.9%), literate (59.2%) and married (91.0%). Housewives represented 62% followed by the unemployed (17.3%). The age at first sexual experience ranged from 15 to 25 (81.0%) which was mostly with other sex (95.1%). HIV testing was performed by only 3.0% of reported cases. Vaginal discharge was the most frequent diagnosis (77.6%) followed by lower abdominal pain (42.3%). Urethral discharge and lower abdominal pain differed significantly in relation to sex while scrotal swelling and lower abdominal pain were statistically different in relation to nationality. Vaginal discharge, cervical inflammation and abdominal pain differed significantly in relation to age. CONCLUSION: Syndromic surveillance of STIs is essential to decrease STIs and control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. There is a need to build capacity of primary health care workers to collect accurate and valid data. Monitoring and evaluation activities are essential to promote program activities.