ABSTRACT
Background: In developing and developed countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has grown. The college phase is a critical period during which healthy behaviors are learned through lifestyle and social environment. College students are prone to increased stress, negatively affecting their daily activities and academic performance. Objective: The general study objective was to investigate the prevalence of obesity among Jazan University students. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study used a pre-tested self-administered anonymous electronic questionnaire to evaluate the prevalence of obesity among 474 Jazan University students and its association with academic performance, physical activity, and social support. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, and associations between variables were assessed using the chi-square test. Results: Approximately 21% and 9.2% of the male and female students were obese, respectively, and the prevalence of obesity significantly differed between them. The use of one or more tobacco products was significantly associated with the prevalence of obesity (P < 0.001); the prevalence of obesity was substantially higher among the tobacco product users than among the non-users (35.3% vs. 14.4%). The presence of a morbidity was also significantly associated with the prevalence of obesity (P = 0.007); the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among the students with at least one comorbidity than among the medically free students (28.8% vs. 14.9%). Conversely, obesity was not associated with academic performance and depression. Specifically, the grade point average was not affected across the academic years (P = 0.085 and P = 0.308, respectively). Conclusion: Obesity is significantly associated with male sex and the use of one or more tobacco products. This finding warrants the need for strategic and multidisciplinary plans at all levels to encourage healthy behaviors among college students, including an active, healthy lifestyle.
ABSTRACT
Background Diabetes mellitus is a disease whose dramatic increase in prevalence worldwide poses a global health crisis. Saudi Arabia has the seventh highest rate of diabetes in the world and the second highest rate in the Middle East. The incidence of diabetes has risen due to insufficient knowledge, attitude, and practice surrounding the disease. Saudis' quality of life has decreased due to the recent rise in diabetes-related mortality and illnesses. Hence, leading healthy lives requires patients to have positive attitudes and self-awareness, which will eventually contribute to reducing diabetes mellites-related complications. Methods A cross-sectional study among patients with type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM) in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia was conducted to assess Saudi adults' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding the disease. The patients participated in the study by filling in a questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using R software, version 4.0.5 (R Studio: Integrated Development for R, Boston, MA) and the analysis included general sample demographics. KAP scores were the dependent variables. Following the sample description, regression analysis was performed to examine the adjusted relationships between KAP factors and independent variables. The impact of all independent variables on KAP variables was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant, and the beta coefficient was applied to estimate the associations between the independent variables and the KAP variables. Results A total of 424 participants were involved in this study, with 194 male participants and 230 female participants. The mean duration of having T2DM was 7.63 ± 7.19 years. More than half of the study participants had a degree (58.49%), and nearly half were employed (42.45%). Married participants had higher knowledge and attitude scores than single and divorced or widowed participants (9.19 ± 3.38, 80.14 ± 14.72, respectively). In comparison, divorced or widowed participants had higher practice scores than single and married participants (16.35 ± 7.42). Participants with higher education attainment had higher knowledge and attitude scores than those with no degree (9.54 ± 3.39, 80.58 ± 17.57, respectively), whereas participants with no degree demonstrated higher practice scores (16.85 ± 8.3) than those with degrees. In examining the study participants' KAP scores, we found knowledge to be insufficient in 51.2% and sufficient in 48.8% of the participants. Of the participants, 7.8% were found to have negative attitude levels and 92.2% were found to have positive attitude levels. Finally, study participants' practice levels were found to be negative in 24.8% and positive in 75.2% of participants. Conclusions This study revealed that patients have gaps in their knowledge, attitude, and practice in regard to T2DM. In this study, associations and correlations were established between KAP scores and the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients. The findings of this study could be helpful to policymakers, decision-makers, health care professionals, and patient advocacy groups in developing interventions to improve the health outcomes in T2DM patients.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Health-care workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, different infection control strategies have been used to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Our study aims to assess the level of adherence of HCWs to the preventive measures against COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An observational study was carried out using data collected by a self-administrated dual-language (Arabic and English) online questionnaire directed to HCWs in Saudi Arabia to measure the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. All HCWs involved in patient care in Saudi Arabia were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 214 HCWs were included in the study (median age = 30 years; 62% male). Among all the participants, 65% of HCWs were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, and 18% were diagnosed with COVID-19. The level of overall adherence to mask use was 82%. HCWs were committed to wearing gloves, gowns, and goggles with a percent of 95%, 85%, and 68%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that HCWs in Saudi Arabia have an acceptable level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures during the pandemic. Larger studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of these preventive measures in reducing the transmission of respiratory microbes between HCWs and patients.
