Nasra M. Shah

PREVALENCE AND SOCIAL CORRELATES OF CONSANGUINITY IN KUWAIT

BACKGROUND Kuwait has one of the highest consanguinity rates in the world. Our objectives in this study were to assess the frequency and trend in consanguineous marriages, and to identify factors associated with inbreeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS A representative sample of 482 households from the most developed (the Capital), and the least developed (Jahra), of the five governorates in Kuwait was selected. The study involved only Kuwaiti nationals. A structured questionnaire was administered by previously trained team members through a household face-to-face interview. RESULTS Data were obtained for 959 current or previous marriages. Frequency of total (first and second cousin) consanguinity was much higher in Jahra governorate (42.1%) than the Capital (22.6%). Over the last decade, the inbreeding has decreased in the Capital but not in Jahra. Bivariate analysis indicated that several socioeconomic and demographic variables were significantly associated with consanguinity. The control of confounding factors by logistic regression showed, however, that Bedouin origin and year of marriage were the only variables significantly related to consanguinity. CONCLUSION There is a widening gap between Bedouins and non-Bedouins in the practice of consanguinity in Kuwait.

Over-the-counter use of oral contraceptives in Kuwait

Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are available over‐the‐counter (OTC) in Kuwait, and constitute a leading method for spacing and limiting children. Data from a nationally representative survey of Kuwaiti women are used to examine OTC use of OCPs. One‐fourth of the women initiated use without consulting a doctor, and 50% bought OCPs from the pharmacy. No socioeconomic or demographic differences were found between those who consulted a physician, implying that women of different background have similar accessibility to the physician. Using multivariate analysis, the odds of consulting a physician were found to be significantly lower for women who first bought OCPs directly from the commercial pharmacy. The duration of first time OCP use did not differ according to physician consultation. It is concluded that OTC availability of OCPs has many advantages and prevents unwanted pregnancy. However, there is a need for better packaging and instructions that would enable high‐risk women to identify themselves and to use OCPs under physician supervision.

Violence against Women Migrant Workers: Issues, Data and Partial Solutions

Despite the creation of specific norms, procedures, and institutions to protect women migrant workers, serious gaps remain. Statistics for measuring violence are not compiled comprehensively or regularly. Two occupations that increase the risk of violence are domestic service and entertainment-related services. Migration through illegal channels and trafficking also increase the risk. This article suggests a list of indicators to measure violence of three major types: 1) economic, 2) social/psychological, and 3) physical/sexual. Evidence from several countries to document instances of violence is reviewed. Major policy issues for the sending and receiving countries are outlined, and some recommendations for addressing such violations are made.

Asian women workers in Kuwait.

As a percentage of the female expatriate labor force in Kuwait, Asians increased from 13 percent in 1965 to 68 percent in 1985. A major reason for this is the increase in domestic servants, especially in Kuwaiti households, 62 percent having at least one servant. Maids come mainly from Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines. A majority are married, aged 20–39 and earn KD 39 (US

Oral Health in Kuwait before the Gulf War

130) a month. Some are faced with horrific living conditions. In contrast, the professional and clerical females earn KD242 (US

Relative success of male workers in the Host Country, Kuwait : Does the channel of migration matter?

800). Regression analysis indicates the wage differentials between Asian and national women to be significant and indicative of discrimination.

Patterns of desired fertility and contraceptive use in Kuwait.

Objective: The aim of this oral health survey was to determine the oral health status and oral health behavior in the whole population in Kuwait. This survey was part of the Kuwait Health Survey, which was conducted by the Ministry of Public Health. The original data were destroyed during the Gulf War (1990/1991), but the aim of this report is to publish the main findings concerning oral health and related factors. Methodology: The data were collected between April 1984 and April 1985. The sample consisted of 3,358 households and 26,530 individuals. The survey consisted of interviews and clinical examinations (>12-year-olds). WHO (1977) criteria were used for examinations. Results: Females were more often brushing their teeth at least once a day than males and non-Kuwaitis slightly more often than Kuwaitis. Over one third (39%) had visited a dentist during the previous 12 months. The proportion of subjects with soft deposit was 66%, calculus 45%, intensive gingivitis 46% and advanced periodontitis 18%. The caries experience was prevalent (52%) in primary dentition (<8-year-olds) and in permanent dentition, highest (95%) among the 60- to 64-year-olds. Conclusion: Preventive programs for periodontal diseases and for dental caries are urgently needed. The coverage of curative care of both diseases also needs to be improved. Health behavior improvement should be targeted by oral health promotion activities.

Living arrangements of older women and men in Kuwait.

A survey of 800 South Asian males employed in skilled or unskilled jobs in Kuwait showed the channel of migration to be a highly significant factor of migrant success. About 34% moved through friends/relatives and 50% through recruitment agents. Multivariate analyses indicate that those who came through friends/relatives earned a higher salary, found the job to fit their expectation, and were happier than those who came through agents, but more of the former came on an Azad visa which may be illegal. Personal networks are likely to encourage additional future migration and are very difficult to regulate through government initiatives.

The family planning program in Pakistan: what went wrong?

This study examined ideal family size its determinants and the impact of motivation on contraceptive use in Kuwait. Data were obtained from a household survey conducted in 1994 among 615 currently married nonpregnant women aged younger than 50 years in 5 major governorates in Kuwait. Six variables (number of living children marriage age wifes employment educational status of husbands and wives ethnic background and desired fertility) explained 15% of the variance in ideal family size. Women desired about 5.3 children. Women who married before the age of 18 years desired about 1 more child than women who married at over 21 years. Bedouin women desired 5.6 children and non-Bedouin women desired 4.8 children. Illiterate women desired 6.3 children. Women without formal schooling desired about 5.0 children. Working women desired 4.9 children. Number of living children and ethnicity were statistically significantly associated with ideal family size. 41% of women did not desire another child. The proportion of women wanting to stop childbearing increased with the number of living children. Non-Bedouin women were more likely to desire a stop to childbearing. 67% had ever used contraception; 50% were current users. Current use was associated with husbands level of education and wifes employment. With controls for the 6 variables women who had the same or more children than their ideal were twice as likely to be current users as women who had not reached their ideal. Number of living children may be the most important factor in determining a stop to childbearing and the use of contraceptives.

Asian labor migration to the Middle East.

The main objectives of this article are toanalyze the correlates of living arrangementsof persons aged 60 or above in the oil-rich,Muslim country of Kuwait and to examine whetheror not patterns of co-residence differ bygender. Data were obtained from a nationallyrepresentative survey of households of Kuwaitinationals, and this paper is based on the 687older Kuwaiti residents of these households.Living arrangements were generally similar forwomen and men. Eighty nine percent of women and94 percent of men co-reside in households with atleast one son or daughter. Only 0.3 percent of menand 1.9 percent of women live alone.Socio-demographic characteristics of women andmen differed significantly; 58 percent of women werewidowed compared with 5 percent of men. Logisticregression analysis showed that women had twotimes higher odds than men of living withouttheir children. The odds of residing withoutchildren also increased with the respondentsage and education but decreased with increasingwealth. Continued rapid demographic,socioeconomic, and cultural change in Kuwaitforetells continued decline in co-residencewith children, and the implications of suchchange in a small city-state merits furtherresearch.