COVID-19 infections, recoveries, and mortality: an ANOVA model of locations and administrative areas in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Saudi Arabia has 13 administrative areas, all of which have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 epidemic regardless of their features. Being the largest and a prominent Arab country, epidemic intensity and dynamics have importance, especially in the era of Vision 2030 where infrastructure development and growth to enhance quality of life has of prime focus. Aims: This analysis aims to trace the differentials in COVID-19 infections, recoveries, and deaths across the country depending upon various demographic and developmental dimensions and interactions. Data and methods: This analysis used Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health data from March 15th, 2020 to August 31st, 2022, by classifying administrative areas and locations to build a generalized linear model (3 × 3): three types of administrative areas (major, middle-sized, and others) and localities (major, medium-sized, and others). Apart from two-way ANOVA, an one-way ANOVA also carried out in addition to calculating mean values of infections, recoveries, and deaths. Results: A total of 205 localities were affected with varying severity, which are based on local demographics. Both the administrative areas and localities had a significant number of cases of infections, recoveries, and mortality, which are influenced by relationships and interactions, leading to differential mean values and proportional distributions across various types of administrative areas and localities. Conclusion: There is dynamism that major administrative areas have lesser threats from the epidemics whereas medium-sized ones have serious threats. Moreover, an interaction of administrative areas and localities explains the dynamics of epidemic spread under varying levels of infrastructure preparedness. Thus, this study presents lessons learned to inform policies, programs, and development plans, especially for regional, urban, and infrastructure areas, considering grassroots level issues and diversity.

Saudi Arabia's Maternal and Child Health Scenario Interpreted.

BACKGROUND: Countries in the Arabian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia, deserve special attention due to the scarcity of information researched and discussed on Maternal and Child Health (MCH). This report focuses on trends in women of reproductive age, children ever born, live births, child mortality, contraception, age at marriage, and fertility rates. METHOD: Data from various censuses conducted from 1992 to 2010 and demographic surveys conducted from 2000 to 2017 were used in this analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Over time period, the female population increased in Saudi Arabia. However, the proportion of children, ever-married women, children ever-born, and live births decreased as did child mortality. These changes in maternal and child health dimensions are owing to reforms in the health sector, including health infrastructure, in accordance with the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CONCLUSIONS: A comparatively higher quality of MCH was reported. However, demands and challenges of obstetric, gynecologic, and pediatric care are increasing, thus, strengthening and streamlining in accordance with fertility trends, marital patterns, and child health care is essential, for which primary data collection at regular intervals is a prerequisite.

Ageing in Saudi Arabia: new dimensions and intervention strategies.

Ageing process of population passing through demographic dividend in many of the Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, where the demographic transition process entered a progressive stage. This process has been accelerated with rapid reductions in fertility caused by various changes in the socio-economic and life style dimensions. Researches on population ageing in the country are rare and thus this analytic research aims at exploring population ageing trends at the backdrop of demographic transition to help build up demanded strategies and policies. This analysis explains a rapid native population ageing especially on absolute size: an increase in line with theoretical demographic transition process. Consequently, structural changes in age distribution accompanied a change in age pyramid from an expansive shape of the late 1990s to a constrictive shape in 2010 and further shrinking by 2016. Obviously, various age related indices-age dependency, index of ageing, and median age-exemplify this trend. Still, the old aged population remain static in terms of percentages or indices, exemplifying that the movement of age cohorts continue in the early ages shall reach old age, soon, in this decade: hence, characterizes retirement boom and multiple pathologies compressed to last years of life. Thus, this is an ideal time to prepare for challenges of ageing, learning from the experiences of nations confronted with similar demographic trends. Old aged population deserves care, concern and compassion to 'add life to years' with dignity and independence. Informal care mechanisms, especially families, play a vital role on this behalf, and so, deserve to be strengthened and empowered through welfare measures, rather than turning to improving formal care system.

Self-health assessments in Saudi Arabia: Directions for an integrated primary healthcare.

Background: Public health data for dissemination and discussion in Saudi Arabia, for the purposes of primary healthcare, are limited but the new initiatives of General Authority of Statistics creates many national surveys. One of the most recent one, the Family/Household Health Survey - 2017 aims to fill the gaps, at the same time, aids in discussions on primary healthcare. Objectives: Analyses done in this research are aimed at appraising the self-assessed health and to examine age-sex and geographic differentials and their probable interconnections with chronic diseases, injuries, and periodic examinations. Data and Methods: This survey conducted in October-December, 2017 covered both native and foreigner households from all the 13 administrative areas through a random sample procedure involving primary sampling units and secondary sampling units. A portion of the published data on self-assessment of health, chronic diseases, injuries, and periodic medical examinations were analyzed. Results: More than half of the persons in the Kingdom, reportedly, are in good health; more so among females than males: proportions decreased with increasing age up to 40 years, thereafter increased sharply. Moreover, the major regions have lesser proportion of people with good health. Prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age, in both total and native population, but with variations across specific diseases - hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and with geographic differentials. On the other hand, there are injuries (from traffic accidents and others) occurred at house, work/school, public place, and other places; pertinent with geographic variations. Moreover, age, sex, and regional differences in periodic health examinations have a contributing effect on health assessments. Moreover, the median age shows a pattern resembling adults assessing good health; chronic diseases after 50s; injuries before 40s; periodic medical examinations in 50s; with females at a lower age, in both groups of population. Conclusions: The national health system played an important role not only in health status and health assessments but also in building confidence and trust and thereby enhancing optimism, realism, recognition, self-awareness, and acceptance of physical condition. Thus, age, sex, and regional variations in health assessment are born out of chronic diseases, injuries, and periodic medical examinations and also of expectations and experiences. Generation of such information, effective dissemination, and regular discussions at various levels followed by in-depth analyses raise the primary healthcare and thus the population health.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in proportion to population: a historical analysis of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Saudi Arabia is one of the countries seriously affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. With a few cases in early March, the daily spread of this disease increased to nearly 5000 at one point in time during the first wave to mid-June 2020. With committed efforts and public health interventions, it has been controlled to nearly 1000 by the end of August 2020 and less than 217 by November 28, 2020; thereafter, reporting declines and small increases. However, by December 2021, a third wave started, lasting for 2 months, during which the infection rate increased rapidly. By April 1, 2022, the number of infected persons in the country was 750,998, with 9047 deaths, 7131 active, and approximately 400 critical cases. This analysis of COVID-19 statistics of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia (March 2020-April 2022) is carried out along with population data to extract patient proportions per 100,000 persons to illustrate the hypothesized social and community impact, which influences families and households. Results: The results showed a high rate of infection and mortality, but with recovery. These rates varied across localities and cities. A few cities with higher population densities are less affected by the spread of the epidemic. However, few localities and upcoming cities/townships were severely affected. These effects are explained as the percentage of the population affected, which exposes the impact on societies, families, and individual members. With concerted efforts, they are brought under control through recovery and adopting mitigation methods. Conclusions: Localities could be classified into four categories based on the proportion of the infected population: rapidly increasing, moderately increasing, declining, and stabilizing. Moreover, differential proportions of the affected population have implications at social and familial levels. Analysis and understanding of these trends, considering the base population, are important for policy building and intervention strategies accounting for grassroots-level demographics, which might serve as a tool to enhance interventions at population and family levels. Strategies for awareness creation and compassionate care are essential to address the psychosocial impact of health emergencies, as proved by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: An Overview.

BACKGROUND: Saudi Arabia, a prominent Arabian country, has 35. 3 million persons living in 2.2 million square kilometers, undergone serious threats recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the built-in infrastructure and disciplined lifestyle, the country could address this pandemic. AIMS: This analysis of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia attempts to assess the situation, explore its global percentage share, percentage of population affected, and local distribution from the beginning of infection until recently, tracing historical developments and changes. DATA AND METHODS: This analysis made use of data released by the Ministry of Health on a daily basis for a number of parameters. They are compiled on an excel sheet on a daily basis: the dataset has undergone rigorous analysis along with the trends and patterns; proportion to the world statistics and geographic distribution. RESULTS: COVID-19 spread rapidly in the country with periodic variations, during June-August, 2020. But, recoveries accelerated in the period, thus bridging the gap of increasing infections. In comparison with the world statistics, the country proportions are lower, while the percentage of population affected is similar. It appears that the intensity varied across all 13 administrative areas. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 transmission since March 2020 is considered to be widespread, creating excess burden on the public health system, delineated into stages (early infection, rapid spread, declining, stabilizing, and second wave). Control measures are set, stage-wise, without impinging upon normal life but to ensure that the proportion of globally affected persons is lesser than the population share: credit goes to the Ministry of Health. Area-wise spread depends largely on population density and development infrastructure dimensions. Ultimately, the disciplined life in compliance with law and order paved the way for effective program implementation and epidemic control.

Child Mortality Transition in the Arabian Gulf: Wealth, Health System Reforms, and Development Goals.

Background: Child mortality is the most crucial indicator of national progress and a reflection of not only the health system performance but also the wealth (budget) utilization and goal achievements. Many developing nations have recorded progress in this dimension but those of the Arabian Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) show remarkable progress and achievements. Methods: Using the latest update of United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation 2017, an attempt is made here to review and appraise their achievements in child mortality reduction since 1950s taking into account Under 5 mortality, infant mortality, and neonatal mortality. Results: This review finds a rapid decline in child mortality in the Arabian Gulf in a short span of 50 years, which is in line with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Conclusions: There is a remarkable budget allocation and investment in health system building, improving the other contributing sectors like water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, and life style modifications apart from the usual health care interventions.

Variations in basic demographics consequential to population size of governorate in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, divided into 5 planning regions, 13 administrative regions and further to 118 governorates (administrative units), has diverse demographic characteristics from one region to another and from one governorate to another. Rural to urban migration and an exodus of immigrants characterize the Kingdom, where development planning depend largely upon local level requirements based on economic activities. An attempt was made to analyze the population characteristics, such as population size, sex ratio, native to foreigner ratio, and households and persons per households by keeping governorate as unit of analysis. Data of two census period (2004 and 2010) was used in order to explore the situation and track the intercensal changes. Large variations in population were observed between governorates and it varied from 3686 to 5,007,886 in 2010. Governorates are divided according to the number of native population demarcating urbanization, modernization and infrastructure. During the intercensal period, the number of small governorates reduced and medium and large sized governorates increased mainly due to population growth. The average population in governorates was increased in total and in the larger governorates during the period. However, we noticed a reduction in the average population size in the small and medium sized governorates. The size of native population in a governorate influences the sex ratio, the native-foreigner ratio and the persons per household as well as the variations within the group of governorates. Analyses of lower level data shall aid not only to understand the situation but also to support local development policies.

Patient satisfaction with quality of primary health care in Benghazi, Libya.

INTRODUCTION: The Libyan National Health System (LNHS) is debated for the paradox of its performance versus impact. It has poor performance, but the national health statistics are good and competitive. There are concerted efforts to manage health care services and to regain the lost trust. A primary health care (PHC) system that focuses on preventive and promotive care is the core focus of LNHS efforts. OBJECTIVES: To assess patient satisfaction with quality of PHC assessed in terms of (a) customer profile, (b) patient satisfaction, and (c) health care-seeking behavior. METHODOLOGY: A sample of nine health centers and seven polyclinics from various locations in Benghazi, Libya were selected for gathering information by structured face-to-face interviews. A total of 310 beneficiaries were interviewed by using an Arabic translation of the Charleston Psychiatric Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: The beneficiaries appear to be quite satisfied with the quality of services. Geographical zone, marital status of beneficiary, and type of facility are satisfaction-related factors. There are preferences for facilities located within the City Centre over those located elsewhere. There is also an interaction effect of the geographical zone and the type of facility in creating differences in satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: A customer-friendly facility concept that emphasizes reception, physician interaction, and cordiality shall add value. Polyclinics require more attention as does the Al Slawy area. A few utility services might also be considered.

Patient Satisfaction with Quality of Primary Health Care in Benghazi; Libya

Introduction: The Libyan National Health System (LNHS) is debated for the paradox of its performance versus impact. It has poor performance; but the national health statistics are good and competitive. There are concerted efforts to manage health care services and to regain the lost trust. A primary health care (PHC) system that focuses on preventive and promotive care is the core focus of LNHS efforts. Objectives: To assess patient satisfaction with quality of PHC assessed in terms of (a) customer profile; (b) patient satisfaction; and (c) health care-seeking behavior. Methodology: A sample of nine health centers and seven polyclinics from various locations in Benghazi; Libya were selected for gathering information by structured face-to-face interviews. A total of 310 beneficiaries were interviewed by using an Arabic translation of the Charleston Psychiatric Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. Results: The beneficiaries appear to be quite satisfied with the quality of services. Geographical zone; marital status of beneficiary; and type of facility are satisfaction-related factors. There are preferences for facilities located within the City Centre over those located elsewhere. There is also an interaction effect of the geographical zone and the type of facility in creating differences in satisfaction. Conclusions: A customer-friendly facility concept that emphasizes reception; physician interaction; and cordiality shall add value. Polyclinics require more attention as does the Al Slawy area. A few utility services might also be considered