Background: Facebook is by far the most popular social network. Thus, it is important to use a valid measuring tool. This study aimed to validate an Arabic version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS). Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among public secondary schools, within the city of Sousse, Eastern Tunisia over 2 months. Students completed self-administrated questionnaires. The revised test-retest version of the scale was given to a sample of ten pilot students in order to check the readability of the translation. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in order to assess the extent to which the BFAS items were interrelated. Results: A total of 1399 participants took part in the study (60.5% females). Among 1353 students who are using Facebook, 71.8% had non-problematic use. The median score of addiction was 13 ranging from 6 to 30. The median time spent each day on Facebook was 3 h. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.87. Students with higher Facebook addiction scores were significantly more addicted to video games (p = 0.001), and more depressed (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The Arabic-BFAS is consistent as a screening test for Facebook addiction among secondary school students due to having good reliability and validity.

Background: People's lives were seriously affected by the emergence and the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Several vaccines were developed in record time to overcome this pandemic. However, putting an end to this public health problem requires substantial vaccination coverage rate. This latter depends on the acceptance of these vaccines especially by health professionals; the leaders of the current war against COVID-19. In fact, they have a central role in promoting vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2. In the developed countries, hesitancy rates towards these vaccines among health professionals vary from 4.3% to 72%. In the developing countries, few studies focused on this issue. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and the predictors of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among the Tunisian health professionals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was led online between the 7th and the 21th of January 2021 among Tunisian health professionals. At least 460 participants were required. Snowball sampling method served to recruit participants. Data were collected using a pre-established and pre-tested questionnaire recorded in a free Google form. The link of the questionnaire was disseminated online to be self-administered anonymously to the participants. The generated online Google Sheet was uploaded and exported to SPSS software for analysis. Results: Of the 546 responses, 493 were retained. The mean age of participants was 37.4 (± 9.5) years. Females represented 70.2% of participants. Social media represented the most frequently used source of information about COVID-19. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among participants was 51.9% (95% CI_: 47.5–56.3)). Female sex, working far from the capital and having concerns about the vaccines components predicted more hesitancy among participants. In contrast, the use of the national COVID-19 information website predicted less hesitancy among them. Conclusions: The current Tunisian communication plan about COVID-19 vaccines must be reinforced. Social media represent a cost effective communication channel that can serve to reassure Tunisian health professionals regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Special interest should be paid to females, paramedical professionals and those working far from the capital.

Hypertension can originate in childhood and remain undetected unless special screening is performed. The burden of hypertension in adolescents in Tunisia is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of blood pressure (BP) within the hypertension range and its association with other risk factors among Tunisian adolescents. A cross-sectional study that included 1385 secondary school students in Sousse, Tunisia, was performed during 2017–2018. A two-stage cluster sampling strategy was used to obtain a representative sample of the study population. BP within the hypertension range (HBP)was classified following the European guideline recommendations for measuring BP in children and adolescents. Anthropometric indices were measured using a standard protocol. A structured questionnaire collected information about sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, mental health status, and addictions. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess hypertension-related risk factors. Our study included 39.5% boys and 60.5% girls. The mean age of our population was 17 ± 1.5 years. The prevalence of HBP was 15.4% (13.1–18.0%), and it was significantly higher in boys (22.8%) than in girls (10.6%, p value < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression model, overweight [OR = 1.72(1.18–2.51)] and obesity [OR = 3.73(2.55–5.41)] were independent risk factors for HBPrange, (p value < 0.001), whereas female sex [OR = 0.41(0.29–0.56), p value < 0.001] and depression [OR = 0.67(0.51–0.88), p value = 0.008] were independent protective factors. Among Tunisian secondary school adolescents, the prevalence of HBP was high and associated with excess body weight. A comprehensive strategy for the prevention of hypertension and its risk factors among youth is urgently needed.

Introduction: Obesity among children is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. School interventions programs can represent a mean to implement healthy nutrition attitudes at early ages. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of a school intervention program to promote healthy nutrition among adolescents, in terms of knowledge, behaviors and intention. Methods: Quasi experimental study among urban students in Sousse, Tunisia with 2 groups, intervention and control. The intervention group had an interactive program integrated with school courses that promoted healthy nutrition habits. Both groups had a pre post evaluation. Results: 2200 students aged from 12 to 16 participated to the pre post evaluation. In the intervention group, there were significant changes form pre to post test in knowledge, intentions, and behaviors. In the control group, almost no significant changes were observed. Conclusion: School intervention programs can represent an interesting approach to promote healthy nutrition habits among adolescents.

Long term effect of a school based intervention to prevent chronic diseases in Tunisia, 2009-2015

Raised blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a 3-year community-based healthy lifestyle promotion intervention at a neighbourhood level for blood pressure reduction among adults in the context of a political transition. We conducted repeated cross-sectional surveys including 1880 (940 from each area) participants at baseline and 1977 (1001 in the intervention area; 976 comparison area) participants at follow-up. Data collection was conducted through home visits. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify the intervention effect and factors associated with blood pressure change in each area. The prevalence of hypertension was 4.4% lower (35.8% vs. 31.4%) in the intervention area after 3 years (p = 0.044). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures changed significantly in the intervention area, from 132.4 ± 19.2 mmHg at baseline to 130.6 ± 17.7 mmHg at follow-up (p = 0.035) and from 78.7 ± 11.8 mmHg to 76.9 ± 11.1 mmHg (p < 10⁻³), respectively. In the control group, the mean systolic blood pressure increased from 129.4 ± 17.8 mmHg to 130.4 ± 17.9 mmHg (p = 0.38). A significant protective effect of the intervention on systolic (β = −0.4; 95% CI: −0.76; −0.06) and diastolic blood pressures (β = −0.22; 95% CI: −0.38; −0.07) was found in the intervention area. In the control area, the effect was not significant for systolic blood pressure. Lifestyle intervention at the neighbourhood level, in the context of a sociopolitical transition, was found to be effective for reducing blood pressure in Sousse, Tunisia. This approach could be scaled up and applied in other similar settings. Future research also needs to focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating multisectoral action plans and legislative measures.