Ali M. Al-Binali

Breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practice among school teachers in Abha female educational district, southwestern Saudi Arabia

BackgroundInadequate knowledge, or inappropriate practice, of breastfeeding may lead to undesirable consequences. The aim of this study was to assess breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among female teachers in the Abha Female Educational District and identify factors that may affect breastfeeding practice in the study population.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among school teachers in Abha Female Educational District during the months of April to June, 2011. Breastfeeding KAP of participants who had at least one child aged five years or younger at the time of the study were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire, based on their experience with the last child.ResultsA total of 384 women made up of 246 (61.1%) primary-, 89 (23.2%) intermediate- and 49 (12.8%) high-school teachers participated in the study. One hundred and nineteen participants (31%) started breastfeeding their children within one hour of delivery, while exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was reported only by 32 (8.3%) participants. Insufficient breast milk and work related problems were the main reasons given by 169 (44%) and 148 (38.5%) of participants, respectively, for stopping breastfeeding before two years. Only 33 participants (8.6%) had attended classes related to breastfeeding. However, 261 participants (68%) indicated the willingness to attend such classes, if available, in future pregnancies.ConclusionsThis study revealed that breast milk insufficiency and adverse work related issues were the main reasons for a very low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among female school teachers in Abha female educational district, Saudi Arabia. A very low rate of attending classes addressing the breastfeeding issues during pregnancy, and an alarming finding of a high percentage of babies receiving readymade liquid formula while still in hospital, were also brought out by the present study. Such findings, if addressed comprehensively by health care providers and decision-makers, will lead to the improvement of breastfeeding practices in the study community.

Specialty preferences: trends and perceptions among Saudi undergraduate medical students.

Background: The exploration of specialty choices by medical students is a hot debate as it affects several important determinants of health care delivery. This study was carried out to determine variation in specialty preferences during medical school training and the perceptions that affect students’ specialty choice. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed on 590 students with a 93.22% response rate and covered queries on demography, specialty choices, and perceptions influencing specialty choices. Class-wise analysis of specialty choices was carried out. Results: The most preferred specialty expressed by male students was surgery, followed by internal medicine and orthopedics, while most preferred by female students were surgery, followed by pediatrics and ophthalmology. Male students’ emphasized factors like less competitive field, shortage of specialists, and diversity of patients while the prestige of specialty and teaching opportunities had a greater impact on female students. Conclusions: Surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, and ophthalmology were the most preferred specialty choices. Gender preference was observed to affect choices of few specialties such as orthopedics and obstetrics/gynecology. Perceptions which have an impact on specialty selection of male and female students may reflect a different tempo of growing up in men and women.

Congenital anomalies and other perinatal outcomes in ICSI vs. naturally conceived pregnancies: a comparative study

BackgroundIntracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures have become accepted worldwide and their effect on society is well-known. However, the full extent of the possible complications of these procedures on maternal and neonatal outcome is still unclear.Materials and MethodsThis is a retrospective case controlled study from January 2003 to December 2007 which compared 253 women that had conceived using assisted reproduction (ICSI) and delivered 327 children at our center (study group) with a matched group of 349 women who naturally conceived and delivered 354 children at Abha General Hospital (control group) during the same period. The obstetrical and neonatal characteristics of the women and their children were assessed to determine any significant differences between the groups.ResultsThe number of gestations per pregnancy (1.34 ± 0.57 vs. 1.01 ± 0.12) and number of children born per woman (1.28 ± 0.49 vs. 1.01 ± 0.12) was significantly higher in the ICSI group (p < 0.001). In addition, the gestational age at delivery (37.23 ± 2.68 vs. 38.56 ± 1.89) was significantly shorter in the ICSI group (p < 0.001) and this led to an increased number of obstetrical interventions, as well as the incidence of cesarean deliveries. Examination of the new-born children revealed similar incidence of congenital anomalies in both groups.ConclusionICSI conceived pregnancies were characterized by an increased number of gestations and live-born, and there was no increase in congenital malformations compared to naturally conceived pregnancies.

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. Methods: This is a retrospective study of all children who had been admitted with a history of corrosive ingestion to Aseer Central Hospital over a period of five years period from 1990 to 1995. The records of 72 patients (38 males and 34 females) were reviewed. The data included age, sex, time lapse till admission, action taken by parents, presenting symptoms, general management given to the child, barium study, endoscopy, and the postcorrosive ingestion outcome of the child. Results: The mean age of the pediatric patients was 28 ± 20 months. Different types of corrosives were encountered. The most common type was 5.25% hypochlorite in 36 patients (50%), kerosene in 12 patients (16.7%), caustic soda in nine patients (12.5%), hydrogen chloride and N-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (HC and ADB) in eight patients (11.1%), and other material in seven patients (9.7%). Endoscopy was done in 30 patients (31.7%), 14 of whom were abnormal. Barium swallow was performed in 11 patients; five of them showed strictures that required frequent dilatation whereas one needed interposition surgery. Conclusion: Corrosive injury is still a major pediatric emergency among young children. It carries a major risk of complications (mainly stricture) and requires standardized management based on evidence-based medicine.

Concentration of free vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor, sFlt-1 in the maternal and fetal circulations of normal term pregnancies at high and low altitudes

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is regulated by hypoxia that is essential for placental development. It is antagonized by a soluble form of its receptor (sFlt-1). The purpose of this study was to measure these factors in the maternal and the cord bloods, at low and high altitude. Methods: Samples were collected from full term births normal pregnant women. Free (unbound) VEGF and sFlt-1 levels were measured in plasma samples from cord and maternal blood for each subject by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using commercially available kits from R&D systems, UK (Cat # DVE00 and Cat # SVR100B, respectively). Results: At high altitude, the average maternal free VEGF in pg/ml was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than that of the cord level (71.30 ± 282.14 and 431.35 ± 424.31, respectively). On the other hand, the average maternal sFlt-1 was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of the cord level (8205.41 ± 6244.72 and 1811.74 + 3469.30, respectively). At low altitude, the average maternal free VEGF was significantly lower than that of the cord level (0.47 ± 0.89 and 483.44 ± 457.31, respectively, p < 0.001). On the other hand, the average maternal sFlt-1 was significantly higher than that of the cord level (9267.82 ± 6345.68 and 958.66 ± 1359.92, respectively, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences by altitude. Conclusion: Secretion of sFlt-1 appears to be polarized, in that concentrations are higher in the maternal compartment than on the fetal side at both high and low altitudes. This may be a normal physiological phenomenon to permit angiogenesis in the placenta and fetus while protecting the mother. Chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude does not affect these distributions.

Drowning in children: Aseer Central Hospital experience, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Aim: To study the reasons, magnitude and outcome of drowning following submersion in water of children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all pediatric patients (0-13) years old who drowned and were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Aseer Central Hospital, Southwestern Saudi Arabia, between January 1st 1999 and December 31st 2009. Results: A total of 19 cases were admitted following submersion in water. The mean age was 5.2 years ±3.8. Majority of victims (94.1%) were from the highland areas. Events most frequently occurred in the summer (46.7%), followed by spring and winter, 33.3% and 20%, respectively. Home events constituted 44.4% of submersion cases. Of these, 55.6% drowned in a washing container, While 53.4% submersed in swimming pools. Twenty-two percent of these accidents occurred in the sea and in wells while 11.1% occurred in a lake. The mean duration of submersion was 4.04 minutes ± 5.35. Cardiac arrest was reported upon arrival at hospital in 42.1% of the victims. There were seven deaths (36.8 %) and in one patient (5.2 %) there was severe brain injury. In all deceased cases, no adults were watching the children when the accidents occurred. Conclusion: Drowning is a significant risk factor facing our children and can claim lives. The media as well as the authority should play a major role in increasing the public awareness to minimize or prevent such a problem.