Intimate partner violence is a worldwide public health problem. The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence and types of domestic violence, and to explore the association between social determinants (sociodemographic factors, husband-related factors, and social support) and violence against women by their intimate partner (husband). We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 18 randomly selected primary health care centers and 13 private institutions (teaching institutes, government offices, social welfare organizations) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Female data collectors took interview from 1,883 married Saudi females aged 30 to 75 years. Interviews included sociodemographic information, reproductive health variables, and social support questionnaire. Violence was measured using modified Intimate Partner Violence Against Women questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. The lifetime prevalence for any type of violence was 43.0% ( n = 810). The most frequent type was controlling behavior (36.8%), followed by emotional violence (22%), sexual violence (12.7%), and physical violence (9.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following were associated with greater odds of reporting domestic violence: younger age 30 to 40 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.3, 3.0]), 41 to 50 years (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI = [1.1, 2.5]); lack of emotional support (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = [1.2, 2.5]); lack of tangible support (aOR = 1.4, 95% CI = [1.1, 1.9]); and perceived poor self-health (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = [1.0, 3.0]), husbands' poor health (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = [1.2, 2.0]), and polygamy (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI = [1.5, 2.6]). Domestic violence occurs frequently in Saudi Arabia. Both social conditions and social relations are significantly associated with domestic violence against Saudi women. Furthermore, improvement in implementation of the local policies and multisectoral protection services can prevent women from domestic violence.

Objective. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for anemia in child bearing age women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Design. Cross-sectional survey was conducted using two-stage cluster sampling. 25 clusters (primary health care centers (PHCC)) were identified from all over Riyadh, and 45–50 households were randomly selected from each cluster. Eligible women were invited to PHCC for questionnaire filling, anthropometric measurements, and complete blood count. Blood hemoglobin was measured with Coulter Cellular Analysis System using light scatter method. Setting. PHCC. Subjects. 969 (68%) women out of 1429 women were included in the analysis. Results. Mean hemoglobin was 12.35 (±1.80) g/dL, 95% CI 12.24–12.46 with interquartile range of 1.9. Anemia (Hb <12 g/dL) was present in 40% (390) women. Mean (±SD) for MCH, MCV, MCHC, and RDW was 79.21 (±12.17) fL, 26.37 (±6.21) pg, 32.36 (±4.91) g/dL, and 14.84 (±4.65)%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that having family history of iron deficiency anemia (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.78–4.76) and infrequent intake of meat (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.15–2.05) were associated with increased risk of anemia, whereas increasing body mass index (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.97) was associated with reduced risk of anemia. Conclusion. Women should be educated about proper diet and reproductive issues in order to reduce the prevalence of anemia in Saudi Arabia.

Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent, particularly among young adults and those with central obesity. Proper fortification policy, health education, and regular screening PHCCs may help prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency.

BackgroundThere are many social and cultural factors affecting the sexual knowledge of adolescents. This study measured the sexual health knowledge level of adolescents and identified its association with role of parents, friends and school environment in adolescent girls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsFour hundred and nineteen Saudi female students belonging to intermediate and secondary grades were randomly selected from four public and private girl schools. 255 (69.8%) students were ≤15 years and 164 (39.2%) were >15 years. A self-administered structured questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic information, role of parents and teachers, availability of school curriculum on sexual health was used. Sexual health knowledge was assessed through questions on identification of physical changes during puberty for ≤15 years and separate questions on sexually transmitted infections for >15 years.Results54% of ≤15years and 70.7% of >15 years had poor sexual health knowledge. Multivariate analysis found determinants for poor sexual health education in ≤15years are: lower education level of both parents (OR 10.87; 95% CI 2.44–48.38), second birth order or more (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.24–4.33) and absence of school curriculum on sexual health (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.33–0.95). Determinants for >15 years of age are : mothers with low literacy (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.42–6.71), as for sources of poor sexual knowledge : parents (OR 10.10; 95% CI 2.70–37.74), schools (OR 6.95; 95% CI 1.95–24.78) maids (OR 4.57; 95% CI 1.26–16.59) and media (OR 5.12; 95% CI 1.29–20.07) were statistically significant factors.ConclusionGovernment agencies with collaboration of all stake holders should develop policies and programs for implementing and evaluating integrated and comprehensive sexual educational programs for adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Background Studies from Saudi Arabia have reported a continued increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and their associated risk factors. The objective of this study was to measure the gender differences in the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk based on Framingham risk scores (FRS) and to explore the association of FRS with sedentary life style including physical inactivity, sitting time and central obesity among Saudi adults. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 2997 Saudi adults (males = 968, females = 2029) selected from 18 primary health care centres in Riyadh city, from December 2014 to August 2015. A detailed interview that evaluated lifestyle and past medical history was conducted; furthermore, anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected for lipid profiling. The FRS were calculated based on the age, gender, systolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, total blood cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels. These scores were categorized into low risk (FRS < 10) and high/intermediate risk (≥10). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results The mean (±SD) age of the males and females was 43.1(±11.7) vs 43.8(±10.9) years ( p = 0.07), respectively. The number of Saudi male participants with intermediate-to-high FRS scores (≥10) was almost twice that of females (males 33% vs 17%). The multivariable logistic regression model after adjusting for education level and housing type, found that low physical activity (aOR & 95%CI for males 2.91 (1.45, 5.80); females 1.38 (1.06, 1.81); prolonged sitting time (aOR &95%CI for males 1.36 (0.98, 1.90) females 1.58 (1.20, 2.07), high central obesity (defined as waist circumference in males > 102 cms, and females > 88 cms) (aOR & 95%CI for males 2.38 (1.67, 3.41); females 3.35 (1.92, 5.87) were associated with high/ intermediate risk for CVD. Conclusions A significant percentage of Saudi population revealed FRS ≥10. Females beyond the age of 50 were found to have a higher prevalence for CVD risk compared with males of the same age group. Modifiable risk factors like low physical activity, prolonged sitting time and central obesity have strong implications for primary prevention and management services that can change the risk profile of the Saudi population. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12872-019-1048-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of anaemia in male and female adolescents in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Design: A cross-sectional community-based study. Setting: Five primary health-care centres in Riyadh. Subjects: We invited 203 male and 292 female adolescents aged 13-18 years for interview, anthropometric measurements and complete blood count. Blood Hb was measured with a Coulter Cellular Analysis System using the light scattering method. Results: Using the WHO cut-off of Hb < 12 g/dl, 16·7 % (n 34) of males and 34·2 % (n 100) of females were suffering from anaemia. Mean Hb in males and females was 13·5 (SD 1·4) and 12·3 (SD 1·2) g/dl, respectively. Values for mean cell volume, mean cell Hb, mean corpuscular Hb concentration and red cell distribution width in male and female adolescents were 77·8 (SD 6·2) v. 76·4 (SD 10·3) μm 3 , 26·1 (SD 2·7) v. 25·5 (SD 2·6) pg, 32·7 (SD 2·4) v. 32·2 (SD 2·6) g/dl and 13·9 (SD 1·4) v. 13·6 (SD 1·3) %, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a positive family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR = 4·7; 95 % CI 1·7, 12·2), infrequent intake (OR = 3·7; 95 % CI 1·3, 10·0) and never intake of fresh juices (OR = 3·5; 95 % CI 1·4, 9·5) and being 13-14 years of age (OR = 3·1; 95 % CI 1·2, 9·3) were significantly associated with anaemia in male adolescents; whereas in females, family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR = 3·4; 95 % CI 1·5, 7·6), being overweight (OR = 3·0; 95 % CI 1·4, 6·1), no intake of fresh juices (OR = 2·6; 95 % CI 1·4, 5·1), living in an apartment (OR = 2·0; 95 % CI 1·1, 3·8) and living in a small house (OR = 2·5; 95 % CI 1·2, 5·3) were significantly associated with anaemia.

BackgroundLow bone mineral density (BMD) is a public health issue in Saudi Arabia. This study measured the prevalence and factors associated with low BMD in Saudi women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross sectional study using two stage cluster sampling technique was conducted in Riyadh, 2009. Thirty clusters, each comprising of 300 houses were randomly chosen and from each cluster 38–40 households were selected to identify 1150 women of >40 years. Women were invited to primary health care center for filling of self-administered questionnaire (n = 1069) comprising of sociodemographic, health, diet and physical activity variables. 1008 women underwent screening for low BMD using the quantitative ultrasound technique. 535 (53%) women with positive screening test were referred to King Khalid Hospital for Dual X-ray Energy absorptiometry (DXA).Results362 women underwent DXA and 212 (39.6%) were screened low BMD either at lumbar spine or femur neck. Mean age of women was 55.26(±8.84) years. Multivariate logistic analysis found; being aged 61 to 70 years (OR 2.75, 95% CI: 1.32-1.48), no literacy (OR 2.97, 95% CI:1.44 - 6.12) or primary education (OR 4.12, 95% CI:2.05-8.29), history of fractures (OR 2.20, 95% CI:1.03- 4.69) and not drinking laban(diluted yogurt) (OR 2.81, 95% CI:1.47- 5.37) significantly associated with low BMD.ConclusionsWomen with low level of education, who do not drink laban and had history of fractures were at high risk of low BMD.

This is a review of the changing pattern of chronic diseases among women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data from national surveys conducted in KSA, whose results were published between 1996 and 2011 were used. The results showed that over a period of ten years the prevalence of obesity increased in Saudi women from 23.6% to 44.0% and in men from 14.2% to 26.2%; self-reported physical inactivity worsened in both women (from 84.7% to 98.1%) and men (from 43.3% to 93.9%); prevalence of smoking in women increased (from 0.9% to 7.6%), while it declined in men (from 21.0% to 18.7%). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly greater in women than men (42.0% versus 37.2%; p < 0.01). In conclusion, Saudi women are potentially at a greater risk than a decade ago to develop cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus, with a notable increase in obesity compared to men.