Ayesha Siddiqua

Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Adolescents from the United Arab Emirates

Purpose. To examine the role of air quality in relation to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, wheeze, and dry cough among adolescents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods. A survey was administered on 6,363 adolescents from 9 UAE regions. Data consists of demographic, socioeconomic, residential, and behavioural variables, such as location of residence, residing near industry/gas stations/dumpsites/construction sites, residing near overhead power line/plants, exposure to tobacco, residential exposure, ethnicity, concern over air pollution, smoking, and purposely smelling gasoline fumes/glue/correctors/car exhaust/burning black ants. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine significant predictors of respiratory health. Results. Asthma prevalence was 12.3%, followed by chronic bronchitis (1.8%) and emphysema (0.5%). Overall 12.2% reported wheeze and 34.8% reported a dry nocturnal cough in the past year. Multivariate analyses suggest that sex is a significant predictor of asthma and dry cough. Exposure to tobacco and arts/crafts/ceramics/stain is significant predictor of respiratory health. Tobacco smoking and purposely smelling gasoline fumes/glue/correctors/car exhaust/burning black ants are significant predictors of wheeze and dry cough. Conclusions. This study suggests that exposure to air quality and behavioral factors such as smoking and purposely smelling gasoline fumes, glue, correctors, car exhaust, or burning black ants are significant predictors of respiratory health among UAE adolescents.

Primary health care use and health care accessibility among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates.

This study examined primary health care use and accessibility among adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates. In a cross-sectional study, we collected health care use, sociodemographic and residential data for a sample of 6363 adolescents. Logistic regression modelling was used to examine predictors of health care use. The most-consulted health professionals were dentists or orthodontists, family doctors and eye specialists. Local adolescents were more likely to attend public clinics/hospitals than private facilities, while the opposite was true for expatriates. In the previous 12 months 22.6% of the participants had not obtained the health care they needed and 19.5% had not had a routine health check-up. Common reasons for not obtaining care were busy schedules, dislike/fear of doctors and long waiting times. Predictors of not obtaining needed care included nationality and income, while those for having a routine check-up were mothers education and car ownership. Improvements to the health care sector may increase health care accessibility among adolescents.

Sociodemographic predictors of tobacco smoking among expatriate and national adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

Background Tobacco use among adolescents is an important public health concern as it causes various forms of smokingrelated health problems and can create a gateway for other substance abuse. Aim This study examined the prevalence, profile and predictors of tobacco use among expatriate and national adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods Using a cross-sectional study design (2007-2009), we collected data on the prevalence of tobacco use in 6363 adolescents aged 13-20 years, including current smokers of cigarettes, midwakh, shisha and any other form of tobacco. We also collected demographic, socioeconomic, residential and behavioural data. Results In the previous 30 days, 505 (8.9%) participants had smoked cigarettes, 355 (6.3%) had smoked midwakh, 421 (7.4%) had smoked shisha and 380 (6.4%) had smoked any other form of tobacco. Overall, 818 (14.0%) adolescents were current smokers, who reported occasional or daily use of at least one form of tobacco in the past 30 days. Results consistently indicated that the prevalence of tobacco use was higher among men than women, regardless of age and tobacco form. Among men, cigarette smoking was the most popular, whereas shisha was the most smoked form of tobacco among women. Being male and ever having used illegal drugs consistently emerged as significant predictors of all forms of tobacco use. Conclusion There is a need for continued public health strategies and education campaigns to discourage adolescents in the UAE from using tobacco.

Behavior profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder in kindergarten: Comparison with other developmental disabilities and typically developing children: Kindergarten behavior of children with ASD

Monitoring behavior patterns that may be specific to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a population level has the potential to improve the allocation of intervention strategies and reduction of the burden of the disease. In Ontario, Canada, developmental data are regularly collected for all kindergarten children with the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a teacher‐completed questionnaire that provides information on childrens status in five domains: physical, social, emotional, language/cognitive, and communication/general knowledge. Our main research questions are: (a) are there differences in kindergarten EDI domain scores between children who are diagnosed with ASD by Grade 3 and those who develop typically or have other disabilities?; (b) do these differences show a different pattern in relation to an early (by kindergarten) or late (by Grade 3) diagnosis?; and (c) are there specific subdomains on the EDI that demonstrate a consistent pattern of differences? EDI domain and subdomain scores were compared among groups using multivariate analysis of variance controlling for age, gender, EDI year, and EDI year by age interaction. Children with ASD, regardless of timing of identification, had significantly lower scores on all domains of the EDI than typically developing children. Children with later ASD diagnosis had higher scores in kindergarten in cognitive areas but lower scores in social‐emotional areas than children with other disabilities. These findings support the potential of the EDI to monitor ASD‐like behaviors at the population level. Autism Res 2018, 11: 410–420.

Prevalence and predictors of over-the-counter medication use among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

The patterns of over-the-counter medication (OTC) usage among adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains largely understudied. The objectives of this study are: (1) to determine the profile of OTC use among UAE adolescents; and (2) to determine the biological or physical, psychological or behavioural, and social predictors of OTC use among the UAE adolescent population. Using a cross-sectional study design, data were collected on the prevalence of OTC use for a sample of 6363 adolescents. Overall, 51% of participants in this study reported OTC use. The most common form of OTC used was acetaminophen. Significant predictors of OTC use were: nationality (UAE, GCC, Arab / Middle East, Arab / Africa, Western, other); needed health care but did not receive it; sex (female); age (15-18 years); any medical diagnosis; unconventional drug use; spending more than 5 hours using TV and computer daily; and using prescription medicines. Thus, there is a need to develop public health policies and strategies that promote appropriate use of OTC in the population.

Primary health-care use and health-care accessibility among adolescents: A case study from the United Arab Emirates

Background: Utilization of primary health care services is an important determinant of health. Individuals who receive primary health care are generally healthier than those who do not. Despite the importance of primary health care use, there are many barriers to health care access that are experienced by populations in Arab countries. This study examined primary health-care use and accessibility among adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we collected primary health-care use, sociodemographic and residential data for 6363 local and expatriate adolescents. Analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, and bivariate and multivariate analyses. Logistic regression modelling was employed to examine predictors of health-care use, specifically ‘not receiving care when needed’, ‘having a routine physical check-up without having a specific problem’, and ‘travelling for medication or treatment to other countries’. Results: The most-consulted health professionals were dentists or orthodontists, family doctors and eye specialists. Local adolescents were more likely to attend public clinics or hospitals than private clinics or hospitals, while the opposite was true for expatriate adolescents. In the last 12 months 22.6% of participants had not obtained needed health care, and 19.5% had not had a routine physical health check-up. Common reasons for not obtaining care were busy schedules, dislike/fear of doctors and long waiting times. Predictors of not obtaining needed care included nationality and income, while those for having a routine check-up were mothers education and car ownership. Conclusions: Improvements to the health-care sector are needed in order to increase health-care accessibility among adolescents.

Injuries, motor vehicles, and adolescence: A case study from the United Arab Emirates

Background: Globally, almost half of all adolescent deaths occur due to injury. Injuries related to accidental fall, being struck by an object or person, and road traffic injury (RTI) are particularly relevant among adolescents. Accidental falls and RTI are the most common causes of injury among children and adolescents. This study examines the profile of injuries among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including motor vehicle injuries (MVI), and identifies related factors associated with injury. Methods: A cross-sectional study design determined incidence of injury for a sample of 6,363 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Data collected information on injury in the past 12 months, socio-demographic, behavioral, sensory data, and traffic-related behaviors. Logistic regression modeling was used to examine predictors of physical injury for the past 12 months, including injuries from motor vehicle collisions. Results: Among participants, 18% experienced injury; the three top causes include accidental falls (38%), being struck by an object or person (18%), and MVI (13%). Identified risk factors that are amenable for prevention include smoking behavior, exposure to smoking, physical activity profile, family income, and speeding behavior. In relation to MVI, significant predictors are attending private schools (OR = 2.58), physical activity (OR = 1.11), family income (OR = 16.25), and speeding (OR = 2.34). Additionally, expatriates were less likely to experience MVI than locals. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for public health policies and education programs that reduce injury among the UAE adolescent population. Future studies should build upon these findings to plan and implement tailored injury prevention strategies for this sub-population.

Injuries among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

This study examines the profile of injuries among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and identifies related factors associated with injury. A cross-sectional study design determined incidence of injury for a sample of 6363 adolescents. Data collected information on injury in the past 12 months, socio-demographic, behavioural and sensory data. Logistic regression modelling was used to examine predictors of physical injury for the past 12 months. Among participants, 18% experienced injury; the three top causes include accidental falls (38%), being struck by an object or person (18%), and motor vehicle injuries (MVI) (13%). The majority of injuries took place at the participants home and surrounding area. Identified risk factors that are amenable for prevention include smoking behaviour, exposure to smoking, physical activity profile, family income, and speeding behaviour. Our findings highlight the need for public health policies and education programmes that reduce injury among the UAE adolescent population.