A study was conducted to demonstrate factors influencing duration of breastfeeding in Al-Jamoom Western region of Saudi Arabia. Information was obtained on 476 children under the age of three years and their mothers in nine of the villages in this area. A predesigned questionnaire was administered to the mothers to obtain information on age, education, fertility parameters and antenatal care during pregnancy with the index children. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of different biological and environmental factors on the duration of breastfeeding. The data showed that over 57% of the mothers breastfed their children for more than a year, and the mean duration of breastfeeding was 14.61 +/- 3.53 months. A considerable proportion of the mothers (42.3%) stopped breastfeeding during the first year. The most common reason for terminating breastfeeding during the first year was insufficient milk (30.9%), and recurrence of pregnancy (27.3%). A minority of the mothers (6.5%) were given advice about breastfeeding by health care professionals (physicians and nurses). Other factors such as the age of the mother, age of the infant when a supplement diet was first introduced, birth order of the child and attendance in an antenatal care clinic had a significant effect on the duration of breastfeeding. It is therefore recommended that Maternal and Child Health services must be strongly reinforced in the Primary Health Care Centers of the Ministry of Health and other health care providers.
The present study was conducted to assess the pattern of body mass index (BMI) prevalence of obesity, and the association between obesity and other health-related problems in a Saudi population. The study was conducted in Queza district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A systematic random sample of Saudi nationals aged 16 years and above were selected (total number 1037; 611 males and 426 females). The study population was clinically examined and a specially-designed questionnaire was administered to obtain the information. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and urine analysis were carried out. The collected data were analyzed using simple as well as multivariate statistical methods. It was observed that BMI significantly increased with age. The crude mean BMI was significantly greater in females compared to males. Prevalence of Grade I obesity among different age groups in males ranged from 15.7% to 43.0%, while in females the range was from 22.8% to 45.7%. Similar patterns for both genders were found for Grade II obesity (5.2%-18.9%; and 11.1%-47.8% respectively). Obesity was significantly associated with an increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, where increase in BMI by one unit increased systolic blood pressure by 0.617 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure by 0.484 mm Hg. This relationship held true even after allowing for other confounding factors. The present study concluded that obesity is a problem prevalent in the community of Queza district. It is recommended that health education programs be implemented through primary health care services in the community to prevent this problem.
A total of 345 shipyard workers (aged 23 to 47) volunteered to perform progressive exercise on a cycle ergometer (15 W/min increments) up to the symptom limited maximum. The results were used to obtain maximal oxygen uptake (iO2 max), the oxygen uptake at a respiratory exchange ratio of unity (0O2 at R1.0), and cardiac frequency at an oxygen uptake of 45 mmol/min (fC45). In this group 156 men (45% of initial population) attained tO2 max as defined, 108 (31%) withdrew or did not exercise maximally, and 49 (14%) had transient electrocardiographic abnormalities. For the 156 men extrapolation of the relation of cardiac frequency on oxygen uptake to the predicted maximal cardiac frequency resulted in overestimation of fO2 max by 9-6%. tO2 Max per kg body mass was negatively correlated with body mass. fO2 Max (mean value 130 6 mmol/min) was described in terms ofage, fat free mass, smoking (yes or no), and level of habitual activity (rated to 4): the standard error of the estimate (SEE) was 17-3 mmol/min (R2 0-42); the equation was suitable for reference values. For estimating the fO2 max of individual men an empirical relation based on tO2 at R1.0, fC45, fat free mass, and % body fat had an SEE of 12-1 mmol/min (R2 0 67). Seventy six per cent of men (88% of those who exercised) attained fO2 at R1.0 (oxygen uptake approximately 73% of maximum). Thus the tO2 max could be estimated in a higher proportion of men than could achieve fO2 max. The estimate is appropriate for assessing exercise capacity in relation to employment. For investigating the determinants ofexercise capacity in groups of subjects the submaximal index, tO2 at R,.o, is more informative.Maximal oxygen uptake (f02 max) reflects the power output for work of 4-10 minutes duration; a high value is a selection criterion for some tasks and in a population is evidence for high customary activity and hence physical fitness. It is measured during progressive exercise up to the point when oxygen uptake reaches a plateau.' An alternative end point is when cardiac frequency attains the predicted maximum2; this presupposes that the reference value for maximal cardiac frequency applies to the study population but it may not. The measurement procedure requires a high level of motivation, causes distress to some subjects, entails medical and electrocardiographic surveillance, and occasionally precipitates myocardial ischaemia or cardiac arrest.3 Indirect estimation of itO2max appears preferable; however, the method should be reproducible and the result equivalent to Accepted 3 August 1987 that obtained by direct measurement. The AO2 max is usually predicted by extrapolating the relation of cardiac frequency on oxygen uptake for progressive submaximal exercise up to the predicted maximal cardiac frequency, but the accuracy of prediction is poor.2 Greater accuracy is achieved using blood lactic acid concentrationv'; however, the requisite blood sampling is not always practicable. In a pilot study prediction from submaximal exercise, cardiac frequency, fat free mass, and...
Medical colleges are using various teaching methods and educational resources in education. In order to explore the attitude of medical students towards these educational methods and resources and the factors playing a major role in their use in a medical school in an Arabic culture, a self answered questionnaire was directed to 283 medical students in their clinical years. Questions on the possible factors which affect the attendance and the use of these education resources were also included. Traditional methods of teaching, lectures, and clinical rounds were found to be the backbone of the educational process in this college. Attendance to lectures was related to both quality of subjects and to the lecturer, emphasizing the importance of a good lecture and lecturer. Clinical bedside teaching was found to be a popular and effective way of teaching medical knowledge, skill, and patient interactions to medical students. The library in this college was the least used resource and student appreciation of its importance was very low. General recommendations are to reduce dependence on lectures gradually in clinical years and to introduce new methods of clinical teaching. Ann Saudi Med 1994;14(3):209-214. WA Milaat, FM El-Gamal, Factors Affecting the Use and Attitude Towards Medical Resources and Educational Methods in a Saudi Medical School. 1994; 14(3): 209-214The education process in medical colleges is aiming, in its broad term, to produce a competent general practitioner oriented to the health problems of the community.1 In fulfilling this, colleges are using various teaching methods and educational resources. Although some medical colleges are using advanced methods such as computeraided discussion of clinical cases, student discussion groups, integrated sessions and open seminars, traditional methods of teaching, namely lectures and clinical rounds, are still considered the backbone of this educational process and, clearly, the most feasible ones.2 The medical library, on the other hand, is the most commonly available educational resource in most medical schools. It is the intention of this paper to explore the attitude of medical students toward these educational methods and resources and the factors playing a major role in their use in a medical school in an Arabic culture and to present some recommendations for their effective use. The College and the Educational ProcessThe medical college in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia operates an undergraduate program for six years following secondary school. The first three years are for basic medical science teaching while the other three years are dedicated to clinical teaching. Teaching in the clinical years is performed in the form of bedside teachings (clinical sessions or rounds) and formal 50 minute lectures.The quantity of lectures and clinical rounds varies in various years but generally, lectures encompass 35% to 40% of the curriculum with clinical sessions making up the remaining 60% to 65%. Slide presentations and overhead transparencie...
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