The prevalence of dental decay and the mean dmft were high and the care index was extremely low. There is a great need for prospective studies and community preventive programs to solve the problem of ECC and set plans to treat open cavities in RAK preschool children.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To establish a standard of normal central corneal thickness (CCT) in normal full-term Saudi newborn. These values could be used as a reference in the early diagnosis and control of the fairly common primary congenital glaucoma in Saudi newborns. Methods: The CCT was measured in 100 normal full-term Saudi newborns (200 eyes) during the first 6 days of the postnatal period. All measurements were carried out by one investigator using ultrasonic pachymeter DGH-1000. Results: The mean CCT of 200 eyes (right and left) was 616 ± 61 lm. The mean CCT of the right and left eyes was similar (CCTRE was 617 ± 62 lm, and mean CCTLE was 616 ± 60 lm), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.417). The mean CCT for males was 631 ± 66 lm and for females 600 ± 50 lm. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). The mean CCT decreases significantly by age [day-1: 626 ± 65 lm, day-2: 601 ± 48 lm and day-3: 574 ± 45 lm (p = 0.049)]. No correlations were found between CCT and gestational age, birth weight, birth length and head circumference. Conclusion: The average CCT in full-term Saudi newborns was found to be 616 ± 61 lm. The mean CCT in males was significantly higher than in females. There was no correlation between CCT and gestational age, birth weight, birth length and head circumference. There were borderline significant differences between CCT in 1-day-, 2-day-, and 3-day-old babies.

Background Schistosomiasis is a highly prevalent parasitic disease that can lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. To our knowledge, there has been no systematic review and meta-analysis of schistosomiasis during pregnancy. Methods We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Relevant published studies were searched in international databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), from their inception until May 31, 2020. The retrieved studies were assessed for quality using the Modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. OpenMeta Analyst software was used for the statistical analysis. Results Thirty-two studies enrolling 21024 pregnant women were included in this meta-analysis. All 32 of these studies were conducted in Africa. Of these studies, 19, 11, and 2 investigated S. mansoni, S. haematobium, and combined S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections, respectively. The pooled prevalence estimate of schistosomiasis during pregnancy was 13.2% (95 CI 11.0–15.4). A random model was used because of high heterogeneity (Q = 99.14; P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, the pooled prevalence estimate of S. haematobium was significantly higher than the pooled prevalence estimates of S. mansoni [22.5% (95% CI 1.6–43.5) vs 8.7% (95% CI 6.0–11.3, P = 0.016), respectively]. The results of meta-regression analyses showed a non-significant difference in the prevalence of schistosomiasis during pregnancy according to the study sample sizes and year of publication. Only six studies evaluated the association between schistosomiasis during pregnancy and anemia. Schistosomiasis was associated with anemia in these six studies (OR = 3.02, 95% = 1.25‒7.28, P = 0.014). Conclusion The present meta-analysis suggests that schistosomiasis during pregnancy is an existing health problem. This meta-analysis also highlights the lack of data on the determinants and outcomes of schistosomiasis during pregnancy. Preventive measures are needed and could be part of antenatal care in areas endemic with schistosomiasis.

Background Malaria infection during pregnancy is a big burden in Sudan and has many adverse effects on both mother and fetus. There are no data concerning the local socio-cultural knowledge of malaria, its complications and prevention during pregnancy. Aim This study was conducted to assess the perceptions of the causes of malaria, its complications, treatment and prevention among midwives and pregnant women of Eastern Sudan so as to provide policy makers and malaria programme managers with information needed to improve the design of malaria control. Subject and methods Interviews were conducted with 87 midwives and 168 pregnant women. ResultsMore than three-quarters (78.2%) of the midwives and (82.7%) pregnant women perceived that mosquitoes were the transmitters of malaria. The coverage of insecticidetreated bed nets (ITNs) was 65.5% among the interviewed pregnant women. There was poor knowledge about the complications of malaria during pregnancy and the effect of malaria treatment on the fetus among the interviewed midwives and pregnant women. More than 60% of the midwives (n=59, 67.8%) and almost all of the pregnant women (n=162, 96.4%) had no knowledge about intermittent preventive treatment (IPT). Conclusion Thus, in spite of good knowledge about symptoms of malaria during pregnancy, there was a lack of perception of prevention and the safety of IPT.

Background:With the report of high prevalence rate of Vitamin D deficiency in the literature since the 1980s, the condition can be considered an epidemic in Saudi Arabia. However, no specific steps have been taken by the Ministry of Health to tackle the problem. Moreover, little is known about general practitioners’ (GPs) knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Vitamin D supplementation for infants.Objectives:To measure the KAP of GPs, of Vitamin D supplementation for infants in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of GPs practicing in primary healthcare centers in the Dammam area of Saudi Arabia. All the 110 GPs working in primary health centers (PHCs) in Dammam were invited to participate in the study. Data was collected with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis of all the variables, expressed as the mean (standard deviation [SD]) or the median if not normally distributed.Results:Ninety-three GPs working in the Dammam area participated in the study. Thirty percent had excellent knowledge of Vitamin D. Ninety two percent had a positive attitude toward Vitamin D supplementation and sixty percent regularly prescribed Vitamin D supplementation for infants.Conclusion:The majority of GPs had a positive attitude toward Vitamin D supplementation for infants. However, their knowledge and practice need improvement.