Meningitis and Bacteremia by Unusual Serotype of Salmonella enterica Strain: A Whole Genome Analysis.

Background: Although meningitis caused by Salmonella species is relatively rare and accounts for <1% of the confirmed cases in neonates, it is associated with case complications and fatality rates up to 50-70% when compared to other forms of Gram-negative bacilli meningitis. Objectives: We conducted an investigation into the first reported case of neonatal meningitis caused by nontyphoidal S. enterica in Jazan, a region in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. Methods: CSF and blood culture were collected from a female neonate patient to confirm the presence of bacterial meningitis. WGS was conducted to find out the comprehensive genomic characterization of S. enterica isolate. Results: A 3-week-old infant was admitted to a local hospital with fever, poor feeding, and hypoactivity. She was diagnosed with Salmonella meningitis and bacteremia caused by S. enterica, which was sensitive to all antimicrobials tested. WGS revealed the specific strain to be S. enterica serotype Johannesburg JZ01, belonging to ST515 and cgMLST 304742. Conclusions: We presented a genomic report of rare case of NTS meningitis in an infant who is living in a rural town in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Further research is required to understand the impact of host genetic factors on invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella infection.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents and Children With Type 1 Diabetes in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is increasingly prevalent among Saudi Arabian youth, particularly in the Jazan region. This chronic condition necessitates lifelong insulin therapy and poses significant daily management challenges for affected adolescents. Despite the high incidence rates, there is a notable lack of research into how T1DM impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess HRQoL and its demographic correlates in T1DM patients in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 236 T1DM patients completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Diabetes Module 3.0 (PedsQL DM). The HRQoL across domains of diabetes symptoms, treatment barriers, adherence, worry, and communication was compared by gender, nationality, age, education, residence, and healthcare follow-up using t-tests and ANOVA. Multivariate regression identified predictors of overall HRQoL. RESULTS: Most respondents were female (51.3%), 42.8% were between the ages of seven and 12 years, and 94.5% were Saudi nationals. Males reported better HRQoL than females, with fewer symptoms, treatment barriers, and better communication (all p<0.05). Non-Saudis had better treatment adherence, communication, and overall HRQoL than Saudis (all p<0.05). Older children (13-18 years) reported lower treatment barriers than younger children (three to six years) (p<0.05). Those with intermediate education had lower treatment barriers than those with preliminary education (p = 0.038). Only the female gender (-0.171, p = 0.009) independently predicted poorer overall HRQoL. CONCLUSION: This study revealed disparities in HRQoL among T1DM children and adolescents. Males, non-Saudis, older children, and those with more education had better HRQoL. Females were at particular risk for poorer outcomes. Targeted interventions are needed to address this region's demographic disparities in diabetes-related HRQoL.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Childhood Asthma in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: The prevalence of asthma among children has been on the rise worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Our study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asthma and its related risk factors among school-age children in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Method: The study was a cross-sectional prospective study that used Phase I ISAAC protocol and was conducted from March to June 2023. The sample size was calculated to be 1600 among school-age children in the Jazan Region Saudi Arabia. This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, Descriptive statistics were calculated for study variables, and appropriate tests of significance were performed to determine statistical significance. Results: The total study population was 1368 the majority of them, 96.6% (n=1321), were Saudi nationals, and most of them lived in rural areas (70.6%, n=966). The prevalence of life-long wheezing, wheezing in the last 12 months, and exercise-induced wheezing was 28.0%, 29.2%, and 30.9%, respectively. Risk factors such as having indoor plants, having a pet, and a smoker in the household were reported by 48.0%, 24.6%, and 36.4% of participants, respectively. Living near an industrial area was determined as a risk factor in 98 (7.2%) of the children. Asthma-related symptoms were strongly correlated with all risk factors based on the chi-square test, and some risk factors based on multivariate linear regression. Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma among children in the Jazan Region is higher than previously reported, and the reported risk factors are significantly correlated with symptoms of asthma.

Nursing Students' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Danger Signs in Neonatal Illnesses.

Background and Objectives: Neonates can show subtle signs of illness that could be overlooked by their mothers and caregivers. Therefore, basic knowledge regarding neonatal health and early detection of neonatal diseases can help improve survival. We assessed nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward the danger signs of neonatal illnesses. Materials and Methods: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study using a structured online questionnaire based on danger signs categorized by the World Health Organization to assess knowledge of neonatal illness danger signs among nursing students. Results: We assessed 342 students, of which 67.0% (95% CI: 61.8-71.7) had good knowledge regarding neonatal illness danger signs, and 71.6% received information about neonatal care. About 33% of the participants had a basic knowledge of neonatal care, such as breastfeeding, immunization, routine postnatal care, and eye care. Students who received information on neonatal care were three times (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 11.59-5.47, p = 0.001) more likely to have good knowledge than those who did not. The students also showed a positive attitude towards the importance of knowledge regarding neonatal illness danger signs, teaching this subject in their college, participating in studies involving the practice and knowledge of mothers regarding neonatal illness danger signs, and the importance of knowledge in reducing neonatal mortality in the region. Conclusions: More training programs on neonatal care should be implemented to enhance knowledge and raise nursing students' awareness of the dangerous signs of neonatal illnesses.

The Efficacy of Educational Interventions in Improving School Teachers' Knowledge of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Well-trained primary school teachers should be competent in recognizing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in students and be able to assist in providing care and support. OBJECTIVES: This study intends to assess primary school teachers' knowledge of ADHD and evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term educational intervention.  Methods: A quasi-experimental quantitative study was conducted among primary school teachers in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A two-hour educational intervention was designed and run in six schools using a specific knowledge rating scale before and after the application of the intervention.  Results: A total of 150 primary school teachers were included in this study, of which 64% were males, 51.3% were in the age group of 40-49 years, and 28% had teaching experience of more than 20 years. Regarding ADHD knowledge, the pre-intervention knowledge of the general criteria, symptoms and diagnosis, and treatment was considered adequate in 3.3%, 16.7%, and 2.7% of the participants, respectively, which improved post-intervention to 22%, 54.7%, and 19.3%, respectively. There was a significant association between the pre-intervention knowledge of the general criteria and the gender and between the knowledge of symptoms and diagnosis and the attendance of ADHD workshop by the participants. Also, there was a significant association between the participants' age, residence experience, attendance of ADHD workshops, and the general criteria and treatment domains. CONCLUSIONS:  Most primary school teachers in Jazan have insufficient knowledge of ADHD. Using a knowledge improvement intervention can substantially improve the teachers' knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate thoughtful knowledge improvement programs into the educational curricula for teachers.

Nutritional Rickets Among Children: A Retrospective Study from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Nutritional rickets remains a significant concern in certain countries, with increasing prevalence attributed to factors such as limited sunlight exposure and undernourishment. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with rickets due to nutritional deficiency in children from Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive data from medical records at a tertiary hospital in Jazan Province. Records of patients diagnosed with rickets between January 2010 and December 2020 were analyzed. Symptomatic rickets cases from pediatric clinics were included, and diagnoses were based on biochemical and clinical tests. Risk factors were assessed using patient medical records. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: The study included 84 patients with rickets (53 females and 31 males), primarily between 11-18 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 21.21. The most common risk factor was nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency or calcium deficiency, with 75 patients reporting a family history of vitamin D deficiency. The children had limited sunlight exposure and low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Malnutrition was identified as the highest risk factor for rickets in the study population. Conclusion: Nutritional rickets appears to be prevalent in the Jazan Province, emphasizing the need for government organizations to address this preventable disease. Adequate sun exposure and recommended dietary vitamin D intake are crucial to prevent rickets, as this study detected inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin D in children. National studies are required to further identify risk factors and develop appropriate strategies.

Barriers of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending primary health-care centers in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) describes infants who were only breastfed for 6 months. Many Saudi mothers have suboptimal breastfeeding practices. Therefore, this study aims to assess breastfeeding knowledge and determine barriers to EBF among mothers attending primary health care centers in Jazan City. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done that included all mothers attending the PHC centers. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Most study participants understand breastfeeding's health benefits for babies and mothers, but most believe that synthetic milk is the best alternative for working mothers to feed their babies. A percentage of 66.7 of mothers practiced breastfeeding during the first 6 months of the child's life. EBF shows a significant relationship with knowledge and barriers. Sixty percent of mothers have never had any information about breastfeeding; the primary source was from their mothers and only 31.4% from hospital staff. Most respondents disagreed with statements of barriers to EBF, which elicits an unexpected response. Conclusions: Most participants have good knowledge concerning breastfeeding benefits for both mother and infant and disagreed on the mentioned barriers for EBF that include lack of breastmilk, deficiency of information, and working conditions.

What are the Attitudes of Medical Students at Jazan University Toward Professionalism?

Purpose: We assessed the attitudes of Jazan University medical students toward professionalism and evaluated the associations of those attitudes with demographic factors. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred ninety-seven respondents (88.85% response rate) out of 898 students who were invited to this study (50.7% were men and 49.3% were women) were studied by their response to the Learner's Attitude of Medical Professionalism Scale (LAMPS) that assess their level of agreement with 28 items, each reflecting a single professionalism competency within the subscales of Altruism, Excellence, Duty/Accountability, Honor/Integrity, and Respect for Others. Results: Of 797 respondents (88.85% response rate), 50.7% were men and 49.3% were women. Subscales with high agreement scores were Excellence (median, 21.0; range, 6-30) and Duty/Accountability (median, 21.0; range, 7-35). Subscales with slightly lower agreement scores were Respect for Others (median, 15.0; range, 5-25), Altruism (median, 15.0; range, 5-25), and Honor/Integrity (median, 12.0; range, 5-25). No sex differences were observed for most subscales; however, men gave higher agreement scores on the Excellence subscale, and compared with year 3 respondents (preclinical phase), year 6 respondents (clinical phase) gave higher agreement scores on the Excellence, Altruism, and Respect for Others subscales. Conclusion: Overall, medical students at Jazan University indicated high agreement with all attitudes to professionalism subscales on the LAMPS.

Assessment of Medical Students Burnout during COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study estimated the prevalence of burnout and its determinants among medical students at Jazan University during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 444 medical students completed an online survey containing the Maslach burnout inventory. The prevalence of burnout was 54.5%. Burnout reached its peak during the fourth year whereas it was the lowest in the internship year. Being a resident in mountain areas, being delayed in college-level, being divorced, and having divorced parents were all associated with an increased risk of burnout. During their time at medical school, students generally showed a trend of consistently high scores in the personal accomplishment subscale, a decreasing trend in the emotional exhaustion subscale, and an increasing trend in the depersonalization subscale. The most important predictive factor was having separated parents. Perceived study satisfaction appeared to be a significant protective factor in a dose-response manner. These findings suggest that burnout among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic is a concern that should be monitored and prevented.

Prevalence and related risks of cyberbullying and its effects on adolescent.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying is becoming common in inflicting harm on others, especially among adolescents. This study aims to assess the prevalence of cyberbullying, determine the risk factors, and assess the association between cyberbullying and the psychological status of adolescents facing this problem in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 355 students, aged between 12-18 years, through a validated online questionnaire to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of cyberbullying and assess psychological effects based on cyberbullying questionnaire and Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) questions. RESULTS: The participants in this study numbered 355; 68% of participants were females compared to 32% were males. Approximately 20% of the participants spend more than 12 h daily on the Internet, and the estimated overall prevalence of cyberbullying was 42.8%, with the male prevalence slightly higher than females. In addition, 26.3% of the participants were significantly affected in their academic Performance due to cyberbullying. Approximately 20% of all participants considered leaving their schools, 19.7% considered ceasing their Internet use, and 21.1% considered harming themselves due to the consequences of cyberbullying. There are essential links between the frequency of harassment, the effect on academic Performance, and being a cyber victim. CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying showed a high prevalence among adolescents in the Jazan region with significant associated psychological effects. There is an urgency for collaboration between the authorities and the community to protect adolescents from this harmful occurrence.