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BACKGROUND: The experience of childbirth significantly influences women's perspectives and attitudes, which are shaped by whether their experiences were positive or negative. This study aims to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding childbirth methods and potential complications among women in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia with 500 participants. Data collection was facilitated through online surveys. The survey was responded to by women residing in Al-Baha of reproductive age (18-45), including those who had given birth vaginally or via cesarean section within the past five years. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic aspects and assessed knowledge and attitudes toward vaginal delivery, cesarean section, and their respective complications. RESULTS: The study encompassed 500 participants, predominantly under 36 years of age (224 participants, 44.8%). A majority were married (355 participants, 71%) and held a university degree (358 participants, 71.6%). Notably, half of the participants were unemployed, and 365 (65.4%) were multiparous. Preferences for childbirth methods showed that 296 women (59.2%) favored vaginal delivery, while 100 women (20%) preferred cesarean section. Regarding knowledge about childbirth, 200 participants (40%) rated their knowledge as very good. CONCLUSION: The study reveals a preference for vaginal delivery among the women surveyed, with over half possessing adequate knowledge about postpartum complications. Women with only a diploma or expressing a preference for cesarean section displayed lower knowledge levels about these complications. It is recommended that medical professionals provide comprehensive information about various childbirth methods and their complications, indications, and benefits to expectant women.
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BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have fought hard to restrain the COVID-19 pandemic by providing high-quality care for their infected patients, but in doing so they have developed fears of becoming sick and feelings of isolation and loneliness. The lived experience of respiratory therapists (RTs) in Saudi Arabia who works with these infected patients needs further investigation. The study sought to describe the experiences and coping strategies of Saudi RT managing patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study utilized qualitative research methods, specifically employing a phenomenological research design. A total of 25 Saudi RT (RTs) who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients were selected after they agreed to participate in this study. The study followed a one-on-one semi-structured interview process using the Zoom platform. This qualitative data collection technique focuses on the participants' lived experiences and feelings to discover shared patterns. The data were analyzed via an inductive approach. RESULTS: Six themes were found in the RT perceptions including stress while treating COVID patients, managing the fear of catching of Covid 19, feelings towards COVID-19 patients, challenges faced by female RTs, workplace experiences, and excessive workload. CONCLUSIONS: RTs feelings dramatically changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. All the RTs have developed a self-copying style that has helped them improve their psychosocial behavior to face the pandemic. During the outbreak, frontline RTs' positive and negative emotions intertwined and coexisted. Negative emotions predominated in the beginning, while good feelings emerged gradually. Self-coping methods and psychosocial development were significant factors in RTs mental health while caring for COVID-19 patients.
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Introduction Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience multiple symptoms of diabetes distress including fear of acute complications such as severe hypoglycemia which may lead to permanent brain damage or death. They also experience fear of acute hyperglycemia that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis as well as chronic complication including diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. No previous research was conducted in Saudi Arabia to assess diabetes distress among adolescents and youth with T1D. This study aimed to assess diabetes distress in adolescents and youth with T1D and its relation to clinical characteristics, glycemic control and diabetes co-morbidities. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted on 158 patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Dr. Erfan and Bagedo General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data about participants' characters, episodes of DKA, last HbA1c level, diabetes co-morbidities were collected. Diabetes distress (DD) was assessed by the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) and Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) scores. Results The prevalence of diabetes distress among our population of adolescents with T1D was 24.1%. The mean scores of PAID and DDS were 43.56 ± 13.84 and 2.22 ± 1.05, respectively. Patients with suboptimal HbA1c had significantly higher mean PAID and DDS scores. There is also a significant positive correlation between HbA1c level and number of ketoacidosis episodes. A highly significant positive correlation was found between PAID and DDS scores. Conclusion This study found that participants with uncontrolled HbA1c had significantly higher mean PAID and DDS scores with a significant positive correlation between the last HbA1c measured level and number of ketoacidosis attacks and PAID and DDS scores. Future studies on larger samples are needed to implement interventions to minimize the burden of diabetes distress among adolescents with T1D.