The educational program was successful in improving students' knowledge about the PMS. Conduction of similar educational programs and adding PMS in the curriculum of secondary and university education are recommended.

The reference values of bone mineral density (BMD) were determined in healthy Saudis of both sexes and compared with US / northern European and other reference data. BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and femur including subregions: trochanter, Ward's triangle, and neck, in 1,980 randomly selected Saudis (age range 20-79 years; 915 males and 1,065 females) living in the Jeddah area. Age-related changes in BMD were similar to those described in US / northern European and Lebanese reference data. Decreases in BMD of males were evident (% per year): 0.3-0.8 (lumbar spine), 0.2-0.4 (femoral trochanter), 0.2-1.4 (Ward's triangle), and 0.2-0.7 (femoral neck). Also, decreases in BMD of females were observed (% per year): 0.8-0.9 (lumbar spine), 0.7-0.9 (Ward's triangle), and 0.3-0.7 (femoral neck). Using stepwise multiple regressions that included both body weight and height, the former had 2-4 times greater effect on BMD than the latter. Using the mean BMD of the <35-year-old group the T-score values were calculated for Saudis. The prevalence of osteoporosis in Saudis (50-79 years) at the lumbar spine using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 38.3-47.7% vs 30.5-49.6 (P<0.000), respectively. Similarly, based on BMD of total femur, the prevalence of osteoporosis using the manufacturer's vs Saudi reference data was 6.3-7.8% vs 1.2-4.7% (P<0.000), respectively. Saudis (> or =50 years) in the lowest quartile of body weight exhibited higher prevalence of osteoporosis (25.6% in females and 15.5% in males) as compared to that of the highest quartiles (0.0% in females and 0.8% in males). The present study underscores the importance of using population-specific reference values for BMD measurements to avoid overdiagnosis and/or underdiagnosis of osteoporosis.

Knowledge in the general population about the PMSGC program was low. Implementation of school and university educational campaigns is important. Improved counseling and adding new topics for counseling on genetic, chronic, and psychiatric problems; building healthy families; reproduction and fertility are recommended.

The objective of the study was to estimate the perinatal mortality rate and to determine the antenatal and intrapartum risk factors associated with perinatal mortality in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A hospital-based, case-control study was carried out in a 40-week period in 1987-1988 in Jeddah at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital (MCH). The subjects comprised 323 perinatal deaths and 486 controls. The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) for Jeddah showed a decline from 42.5 in Islamic Calendar Year 1393H (1973) and 49.5 in 1400H (1979-1980) to 31.4 per 1000 live and stillbirths in 1408H (1987-1988). The risk factors independently associated with perinatal death included low birth weight, complications during labour, ethnic origin and mother's age being 35 and over. In addition to lethal deformities, direct causes of perinatal death were related to low birthweight, mechanical causes, antepartum haemorrhage and neonatal infection. No antenatal care was received by 36.5% of both cases and controls. The high mortality and the failure to attend for antenatal care suggest a need for closer surveillance of women throughout their pregnancies and for improvements in both obstetric services and neonatal management.

Dengue fever resurged sharply in Jeddah in 2004 and rose to 1308 cases in 2006. This case-control study determined factors potentiating the spread of the disease to provide an epidemiological baseline to help dengue control. All (650) suspected cases of dengue in Jeddah in 2007 were eligible for inclusion. Cases were those confirmed with dengue by laboratory investigations (n = 244) and controls those confirmed negative (n = 406). Of these, 129 cases and 240 controls could be contacted and were included in the study. Variables found significant in the bivariate analysis were included in a logistic regression analysis. The presence of stagnant water in indoor drainage holes (OR = 4.9), indoor larvae (OR = 2.2), nearby construction sites (OR = 2.2), and older age (OR = 1.2) were independent determinants of dengue infection (P < 0.01 for all). Face-to-face health education significantly decreased the risk of dengue infection. Efforts are needed to control the modifiable factors identified in this study with emphasis on health education.