Background: Breastfeeding is considered an optimal feeding method, as it fulfills the infants' nutritional needs. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), which means to feed an infant solely (with some exceptions) on breast milk, is important for the health and well-being of both infant and mother. However, implementing an effective health education program is essential for promoting EBF and improving health awareness. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to measure mothers’ beliefs, knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding before and after implementing the breastfeeding health education program at King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH).Methods: This study employs a quantitative research method and uses a cross-sectional study design. All in-patient and out-patient postnatal women who received information about EBF in their third trimester were evaluated post-delivery. In the period from December 2018 to March 2019, the total number of participants is (n=234).Results: The study indicates a statistically significant positive association between EBF knowledge and practice evaluation scores. Higher levels of breastfeeding (BF) knowledge were found to translate into better BF practice. Knowledge scores also had a significant association with beliefs, with higher knowledge being linked to more positive beliefs in relation to BF.Conclusions: The conducted study reports the major effect of health education intervention on EBF practice among the KFAFH population. As a result, some managerial, and clinical recommendations were addressed. Other recommendations focused on working mothers, as KFAFH may employ some strategies and polices to maximize the use of EBF.

Objective To describe the Healthy Meal Program (HMP), a community‐academic partnership that aims to address the food insecurity and social isolation in older adults living in an urban setting. Program Implementation Low‐income older adults were screened for food insecurity and social isolation. A partnership with the food bank and a farm‐based organization helped provide a weekly congregate or home‐delivered meal, pilot a cooking class, and offer a mobile market selling fresh vegetables at discounted prices. Program Evaluation Overall, 339 individuals agreed to participate in the screening process. Sixty‐eight percent (n = 230) screened positive for food insecurity and 41% (n = 139) screened positive for social isolation. Among individuals who were food insecure, 159 were referred to a food commodity program, 31 to meals on wheels, 23 to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and 28 to emergency food pantries. The mobile market served 75 participants weekly and 15 individuals took part in cooking classes. Conclusions Screening for food insecurity and social isolation in the HMP helped to assess the prevalence of these social determinants of health in low‐income older adults. Weekly congregate meals, home visits, and group cooking classes were initiatives taken to decrease the impact of food insecurity and social isolation in this vulnerable population.

Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the factors associated with psychological outcomes among HCWs in Saudi Arabia (SA) during the pandemic. It also aims to determine the factors affecting their QoL. Methodology: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all HCWs who are working in direct and indirect contact with COVID-19 cases in tertiary hospitals of SA were invited voluntarily to complete the validated web-based survey during the study period. A total of 1,182 HCWs from different regions across SA and different specialties including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, health educators, technicians, and others responded to this study between the 1st of June and the 31st of July 2020. Psychological risk factors were evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale; and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) anxiety scale. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL). Socio-demographic data were summarized with frequency and percentages. The overall anxiety, depression, WHOQOL scores of the study participants were calculated according to mean value, SD, and median. The association between socio-demographic factors and anxiety, depression scales were examined using independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and the chi-square test (for categorical depression/ anxiety variables severe depression/severe anxiety against mild/moderate/moderately severe). While those factors and WHOQOL domains were examined using one-way ANOVA.   Multivariate analysis was used to identify the front-line work predictors of depression and anxiety. Findings: Poor QoL scores were observed, especially in the physical and psychological health domains. In general, low QoL was significantly higher among workers who reported higher levels of anxiety and depression. The observed factors affecting the psychological health and QoL were age, gender, living with children and/or older people, occupation, years of experience, participation in front-line work. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Specific characteristics of HCWs may act as protective or risk factors with regard to depression, anxiety, and QoL. Targeted interventions could mitigate the negative effects of front-line work to maintain medical professionals’ optimal psychological and physical health .More research is needed to further determine how the COVID-19 pandemic and front-line work affect HCWs' mental and physical well-being

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