BackgroundStudies done in Saudi Arabia showed a high prevalence of headache among university students. Limited research was done to assess the relationship between headache and psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and association between migraine, tension-type headache, and depression among Saudi female students in Taif University.Participants and methodsA cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires about headache and depression was conducted at the Taif University on 1340 female students in the academic year 2016–2017. The Beck Depression Inventory, the ID Migraine™ screening tool, and the criteria of the International Headache Society were used to investigate the depressive symptoms and headache types.ResultsThe self-reported headache prevalence was 68.4%, and the prevalence of migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and depression was 32.5%, 29.5%, and 6.2%, respectively. The main migraine trigger was stress or anxiety; 86.6% of migraineurs had a positive family history, and only 11.9% sought medical care for headache. Of students with TTH, 61.1% reported family history and only 12.4% sought medical care. Paracetamol was the commonly used analgesic for all headache types. Medical students and students in older grades showed significantly higher levels of all headache types. Depression prevalence was significantly higher among migraineurs and students who suffered higher headache frequencies.ConclusionThe study demonstrated a high prevalence of headache among the studied students and an association between headache and depression. The study calls for increasing awareness towards headache and the importance of seeking medical consultation. Management strategies should be planned for the observed headache and depression comorbidity.

The prevalence of HI did not differ across settings and was more common than reported in children from developed countries. The screening results also suggest that professionals with limited audiology background can be trained to implement hearing screening programs in Egyptian schools.

No abstract

This study showed the effectiveness of the intervention program in improving students' knowledge of breast cancer and their practice of BSE. Thus, campaigns focusing on females in this age group should be carried out in the Saudi society.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess socio-behavioral factors of overweight and obesity in primary Egyptian school children such as: residence, type of school, parent education, entertainment and dietary behaviors. Methods:The study was cross sectional and was conducted from May 2013 to August 2014 in Menoufia governorate in Egypt. 354 children aged 8-12 years brought consent from parents to participate and were enrolled in the study. The BMI percentile for students was calculated using a percentile online calculator. Results:The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity was 23.7% and 19.5% respectively. The most important predictors to overweight and obesity in the students were eating restaurant food at least twice weekly, TV watching more than 2 hours per day, mother employment and pocket money. Conclusion:Values for overweight and obesity in our study have approached the developed world high values. The most important risk factors for obesity and overweight in the developing societies that should be targeted by policy makers are restaurant foods, TV watching, mother employment and pocket money.

Objective: We examined weight changes during chronic hepatitis C (CHC) therapy and association with virologic response.Methods: Weight changes were compared between subjects achieving rapid, early, and sustained virologic response rates (RVR, EVR, and SVR). RVR, EVR and SVR were compared among patients with or without weight loss of ≥ 0.5 body mass index (BMI) units (kg/m2) at 4, 12, 48 weeks.Results: CHC therapy was initiated in 184 cases. Median pretreatment BMI was 27.7 (18.4-51.3) with 38% overweight and 31% obese (BMI ≥25 and ≥ 30, respectively). Among patients with liver biopsies (n = 90), steatosis was present in 31.6%; fibrosis grade of 1-2/6 in 46%, 3-4 in 37.3% and 5-6 in 14.7%. Mean weight loss at 4, 12, 24 and 48 weeks of therapy were 1.2, 2.6, 3.8 and 3.3 kg, respectively. After 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, 38% and 54.3% had a BMI decrement of ≥ 0.5 kg/m2. For genotype 1, weight loss at 4 weeks was associated with significantly higher EVR (90.0% vs. 70%, p = 0.01) and a tendency towards better RVR and SVR (42.9% vs. 26.0% and 55.2% vs. 34.8%, respectively, p = 0.08). In multivariate analysis, weight loss at 4 weeks was independently associated with EVR (OR 6.3, p = 0.02) but was not significantly associated with RVR or SVRConclusions: Spontaneous weight loss at 4 and 12 weeks of CHC therapy was associated with improved EVR. Weight loss at 4 weeks was an independent predictor of EVR but not SVR.

Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent among adolescents but little is known about its prevalence in Saudi adolescents. Objectives: we aimed to determine the prevalence of SAD and investigate its associated correlates among Saudi adolescent females. Methods: A cross sectional study design was conducted at Taif university in the period from January to May 2016. A self-report pre-designed questionnaire was distributed to the students about personal factors and Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) which is a reliable and valid psychometric tool of screening SAD. Results: Data of 957 female students were analyzed and rendered a prevalence of 16.3% for SAD among them. Most of the affected students had a moderate degree of the disorder in 43.5% of cases. Personal factors significantly associated with SAD in univariate analysis were obese weight perception (p <0.001), having body deformities (p = 0.004), insufficient income (p = 0.003), 1st birth order (p = 0.006), parental conflict (p = 0.003), parental death (p <0.001) and smoking (p <0.001). Conclusion and recommendations: Our results show there is a high prevalence of SAD among female university students in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Independent personal factors associated with SAD in our study were smoking, parent death and obese weight perception. Based on the high prevalence encountered in our study, we recommend early detection and intervention to reduce the overall burden associated with this psychiatric disorder in the adolescent population as emphasized by the literature.

No abstract