Prevalence of smoking among male secondary school students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of smoking and habits of smoking among male secondary school students in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to assess their knowledge and attitudes toward it.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, using a two-stage cluster sampling, randomly selecting 4 out of 85 government male secondary schools. Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire eliciting responses to questions on personal background, smoking behavior, knowledge, behavior, and attitude toward smoking.

Prevalence of smoking among secondary school male students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a survey study.

Background: This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of smoking and the smoking habits among male secondary school students in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards smoking.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, using a two-stage cluster sample that randomly selected four schools from 85 public secondary schools for males. Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire containing questions on personal background, smoking behavior, knowledge, and behavior and attitudes towards smoking.

Adherence of primary health care physicians to hypertension management guidelines in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia.

Although there has been significant progress in the management of hypertension, rates for control of this chronic disease in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been shown to be very low. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge of primary health care (PHC) physicians and the extent of their adherence to the recommendations of clinical practice guidelines concerning care of hypertensive patients. The assessment was made in the Aseer region of KSA using a modified version of the World Health Organization "Physician Inquiry Questionnaire.

Adolescents' mental health in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Using stratified random sampling technique, 1552 adolescent school age boys and girls in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were screened for mental health using Arabic validated version of SCL-90-R. The overall prevalence of mental disorders amounted to 15.5%.

Pattern of corrosive ingestion in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Background/aims: Ingested corrosive material is a major pediatric emergency all over the world. The corrosive material can cause damage to the digestive tract, ranging from minor injury to strictures, and sometimes even death. We aimed to review the pattern of corrosive ingestion in children who had been admitted to Aseer Central Hospital in the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia.

Obesity and related behaviors among adolescent school boys in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Using stratified sampling technique 2696 adolescent school boys (aged 11-19 years) in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia were interviewed and examined for weight and height using standardized techniques. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study amounted to 16%. Using logistic regression analysis, lack of exercise practice in the previous week in general [aOR = 1.

Occupational stress among paramedical staff working in primary health care centers in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Occupational stress among paramedical staff in Primary Health care centers was not extensively studied as in medical or hospital nursing staff. The aim of the present study was to reveal the work characteristics in the PHC centers in Abha city, Saudi Arabia, with its stressful hazardous conditions as perceived by the working paramedical staff. The study revealed that this staff is facing heavy workload with low decision and control latitude.

Prevalence of proteinuria and its clinical implications in type 2 diabetic patients treated at a primary health care centre in Abha City.

The aim of the present study is to describe the prevalence of proteinuria in a series of type 2 diabetic patients registered and followed up in the diabetes clinic of a primary health care center (PHCC) in Abha city, southern Saudi Arabia and to relate the proteinuria to some clinical manifestations. The study involved the files of 208 diabetic patients (118 females and 90 males). They were chosen from 475 files of diabetic patients receiving care in the PHC center of Shamasan in Abha City.

Significance of proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients treated at a primary health care center in Abha City, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of the present study is to describe the prevalence of proteinuria in a series of type 2 diabetic patients registered and followed up in the diabetes clinic of a primary health care center (PHCC) in Abha city, southern Saudi Arabia and to relate the proteinuria to some clinical manifestations. The study involved the files of 208 diabetic patients (118 females and 90 males). They were chosen from 475 files of diabetic patients receiving care in the PHC center of Shamasan in Abha City.

Analysis of diarrhea episodes in children reported at a primary health care center in abha city in the year 2002.

Objective: To determine the incidence, characteristics and the different factors associated with diarrhea events reported at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level in children under five years of age.

Material And Methods: All reported cases of diarrhea in children under 5 in the primary health care (PHC) center of Wasat Abha, Abha city during the year 2002. The medical records of patients were reviewed for name, sex, date, duration of diarrhea and character of stool, type of feeding, degree of dehydration, the treatment received and the outcome.

Students perception of the various teaching methods used in the primary health care course in the Abha, College of Medicine.

Objective: To describe students perception of the various teaching methods used in the Primary Health Care (PHC) course concerning the scientific material presented, information processing as well as motivation and importance attached by the students to each method.

Methods: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was filled by the students of the sixth year (n=51) at the end of the course. This was structured into 3 main parts: a general part addressing the objectives of the course, the suitability of the course contents, the references and the importance of the course for the future career.

Hearing impairment and hypertension among long distance bus drivers.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of possible hearing impairment and hypertension in long distance bus drivers compared to the city bus drivers in Abha city.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 62 long distance bus drivers and 46 city bus drivers from October 2001 to March 2002. A specially-designed questionnaire was administered to the drivers to explore some of their socioeconomic backgrounds.