Knowledge and Practice Regarding Abnormal Vaginal Discharge Among Adolescent Females in Riyadh City: An Observational Study

Introduction Vaginal discharge (VD) is a common condition that affects women during their childbearing years and often requires medical attention. It results from the physiological secretion of cervical and Bartholin's glands, as well as the shedding of vaginal epithelial cells caused by bacterial action in the vagina, which alters the acidic environment of the vagina. Experiencing vaginal symptoms is a common reason for seeking medical attention, especially among women during their reproductive years. This often leads to a visit to an obstetrician or a gynecologist. Accordingly, addressing such issues becomes even more crucial. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice regarding abnormal VD (AVD) among adolescent females in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Methods The present study utilized a correlational cross-sectional survey methodology conducted in Riyadh City. The questionnaire was employed as the data collection instrument from November 2022 to November 2023. Eligibility for inclusion was limited to adolescent females and students living in Riyadh City, aged from 14 to 20 years. Electronic consent was obtained from participants aged 18 years and above, while consent from guardians was sought for those below 18 years. This sample size was determined with a minimum requirement of 500 participants, and 824 were involved. The questionnaire encompassed several sections, including demographic characteristics (gender, age, education, and menstruation history), history of AVD, knowledge regarding VD, and students' practices and behaviors related to VD. Cronbach's alpha values for all the sections were more than 0.7. Data analysis was performed using statistical software, employing descriptive analysis, chi-square tests, and t-tests. Results A total of 824 girls were included, and their ages ranged from 14 to 20 years, with a mean age of (16 years ± 5) years old. Exactly 697 (84.6%) were high school students. Most of the study students (85.1%; 701) complained of an AVD at any point in their lives. Only 97 (11.8%) of the study students had a good knowledge level of VD. Higher age, marriage, late menarche, and seeking medical care for complaints of VD were the factors associated with a high knowledge level about VD (P<0.05). Additionally, 44.2% of school-age females sought medical care when experiencing AVD, with reasons including worsening symptoms over time and fear of serious diseases. However, a significant portion of participants opted for self-treatment using herbal remedies, medication from pharmacies, or leaving VD untreated, citing reasons such as perceiving it as a simple condition or fearing examination and disclosure. Conclusion In summary, the current study revealed that adolescent females demonstrate a sub-optimal level of knowledge regarding AVD. These findings are primarily observed among adolescent girls and individuals who exhibit a reluctance to seek appropriate medical intervention when having AVD.

The Effect of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Pregnancy Complications: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Until recently, the only effective method for treating morbid obesity over the long term was bariatric surgery (BS). During pregnancy, obesity is correlated with higher risks for numerous complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, mortality, and large-for-gestational-age neonates. The most commonly reported complications among women who underwent sleeve gastrectomy and experienced pregnancy were placental bleeding, oligohydramnios, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, and recurrent abortions.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to estimate the consequence of sleeve gastrectomy and its relation with pregnancy outcomes among women in Saudi Arabia.

METHODOLOGY

This study adopted a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design. It was conducted in Saudi Arabia between February and May 2023 among women who became pregnant after undergoing sleeve gastrectomy.  Result: Anemia was experienced by 78.8% of the patients during pregnancy. In our study, 18% of the individuals experienced complications during or right after delivery, with postpartum hemorrhage being the most frequent (43.1%). We discovered that pre-eclampsia and delivering a baby small for gestational age were considerably more common in pregnant women who smoked (p ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, no significant association was discovered between any comorbidity and mode of delivery, birth weight, child complications, or difficulties that occurred during or right after labor.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that weight gain after sleeve gastrectomy negatively impacted pregnancy and increased the probability of several complications for the mother and fetus. Healthcare providers must inform every woman undergoing BS about the possible complication of an unhealthy lifestyle after the procedure.

Assessment of Public Knowledge of Hypertension Among the Saudi Population

Background Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular illness and premature death and is becoming more prevalent worldwide. To promote better educational strategies regarding hypertension, it is crucial to identify the most significant knowledge gaps among the general public. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of hypertension among the general public in Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. The target population was the general public aged ≥18 in Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was conducted using RStudio (R version 4.1.1). Numerical data were described as mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartile range (IQR) whenever applicable. P-values <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results A total of 1,404 respondents were collected. After exclusion, 1,399 records were analyzed in this study. More than half of the respondents were females (59.5%) aged 18-39 years (52.7%) and had a university degree (64.8%). Additionally, 46.0% were employed. Approximately one-quarter of the sample had hypertension (26.3%), while 73.3% had a family history of hypertension The median score was 16.0 (IQR = 12.0-18.0) with a minimum and a maximum of 0.0 and 22.0, respectively. Reliability testing revealed that knowledge items had a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.859 based on 22 knowledge items). There was no significant association between knowledge and gender and having a personal history of hypertension. However, the knowledge score differed significantly by age, educational level, employment status, and having a family history of hypertension. On the multivariate analysis, knowledge scores were independently higher among participants in the higher age categories. Moreover, having a university degree, a postgraduate degree, and a family history of hypertension were independently associated with higher knowledge scores. Conclusions This study found that the general public in Saudi Arabia had good levels of knowledge about hypertension. Being knowledgeable about hypertension not only improves adherence to treatment plans among antihypertensive patients but also aids in avoiding its occurrence and consequences among non-hypertensive patients by adopting self-care. Serial and frequent studies on this issue are recommended to gather more evidence on this topic. Ongoing hypertension education is essential to enhance knowledge to minimize the burden of this prevalent issue.

Construct Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale Among Saudi Population

Background Knowledgeable people are more likely to follow their treatment plan and reduce hypertension morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to construct the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS) among Saudis. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire research targets hypertensives and non-hypertensives. Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's correlation matrix analysis measured the questionnaire's construct validity. Wilcoxon rank sum tests examined HK-LS tools' discriminant validity. A p<0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 1424 responses were received. However, the 1419 individuals were evaluated after applying exclusion criteria. About 60% of the participants were female, with the most common age groups being 18-29 years (38.5%) and 40-49 years (24.0%). A personal history of hypertension was reported by 26.1%, and a family history of hypertension by 73.3% of the subjects. Cronbach's alpha for the whole HK-LS was 0.883, suggesting that the tool was reliable. All the items of the HK-LS questionnaire were significantly correlated with each other, except for a non-significant correlation between statements two and seven (r=0.05, p=0.091). The strongest correlations were apparent between items 19 and 20 (r=0.70, p<0.0001), items one and two (r=0.64, p<0.0001), and items 18 and 19 (r=0.56, p<0.0001). However, the weakest associations were reported among items two and six (r=0.06, p<0.05), items two and nine (r=0.07, p<0.05), and items one and 19 (r=0.07, p<0.05). The discriminant validity showed that a personal history of hypertension was associated with significantly higher scores of two HK-LS subscales, including definitions and complications. In addition, the overall knowledge score was significantly higher among participants with a positive history of hypertension among family and/or friends.  Conclusions The Arabic version of the HK-LS was found to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring knowledge about hypertension among the Saudi population. This reliable instrument can assist medical professionals in establishing education programs.

Women's Perceptions of Medication Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia

Background Pregnancy is a unique physiological condition in which medication intake offers a challenge and a worry due to changed drug pharmacokinetics and drugs potentially crossing the placenta, such as beta blockers and benzodiazepines. As a result, medication safety during pregnancy has gained global interest, attracting attention from doctors and pregnant women, little of which has been documented regarding the Saudi population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess medication use and perceptions of medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding among women in Saudi Arabia. Methods This study is a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study. Data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Data was then entered and analyzed using SPSS 24.0 version (IBM Inc., Chicago, USA) statistical software. Results A total of 1831 participants were included in the current study. About 835 (45.6%) of the participants were within the age group of 26-35 years old. A total of 602 (32.9%) were using medications on a daily basis or several times a week during pregnancy or breastfeeding. About 1476 (80.6%) participants agreed on medication use during pregnancy. About 66.4% of women would be worried about fetal malformations if they were supposed to take medications during pregnancy. About 940 (51.3%) women think that medication use during early pregnancy is harmful, and 500 (27.3%) think that medication use during breastfeeding trimesters is harmful. Regarding pregnant women's perception of herbal medicines, about (65.4%) of those with low educational levels think that herbal medicines are harmful in early pregnancy. Most participants (63%) within the age group of ≥36 years old think that medications and herbal medicines are harmful in early pregnancy. The vast majority (91%) of the participants would ask the physician working on antenatal care if they had concerns about using certain medications during pregnancy. Conclusion The average use of medication and herbal medicines among pregnant women was noted, although many women had negative beliefs about taking certain medications. Continued effort is essential to support and encourage women to seek out reliable information sources regarding medication use during pregnancy. In addition, healthcare practitioners should be mindful of women's attitudes when counseling them to take medication during pregnancy.