The number of babies in Qatar being exclusively breastfed is significantly lower than the global target set by the World Health Organization. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), selected barriers, and professional support as well as their association with continued breastfeeding at one year of age. A sample of Qatari and non-Qatari mothers (N = 195) who attended a well-baby clinic held at primary health care centers in Qatar completed a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, the Pearson Chi-squared test, and logistic regression were performed. Around 42% of the mothers stopped breastfeeding when their child was aged between 0 and 11 months old. Mothers who had only one or female child stopped breastfeeding between the ages of 0 and 6 months (p = 0.025, 0.059). The more optimal the breastfeeding practices followed by the mothers, the older the age of the infant when they stopped breastfeeding (p = 0.001). The following factors were inversely associated with breastfeeding duration: the mother’s perceptions that she “did not know how to breastfeed,” or “wasn’t making enough milk,” and the need “to return to work/school”, with p = 0.022, 0.004, and 0.022, respectively. These findings present factors that should be considered when planning for health education and promotion programs to prolong breastfeeding duration in Qatar.

Tobacco-free campus policies are needed to create environments conducive to prevention or quitting in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), where the use of various tobacco products is on the rise among university students. The objectives of this study were to assess overall support for a 100% tobacco-free campus policy and its predictors among different stakeholder groups at the largest national university in Qatar and to understand attitudes towards specific policy components. A cross-sectional online survey of faculty and students. We measured sociodemographic variables, tobacco use, and support for components of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy. A total score for support was calculated, and associations with selected predictors were assessed using multivariable linear regression. 413 respondents participated in the survey. A majority of faculty/staff and students (76.6% and 75.5%, respectively) supported the implementation of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy, with a majority supporting extension of the policy beyond cigarettes. Support for other components of the policy varied. Among students, overall support was lower among males and tobacco users and higher among the married. Among faculty and staff, support was lower among Qatari nationals and tobacco users. In the context of a growing tobacco crisis in the EMR, implementing and understanding the impact of tobacco-free campus policies is essential. This paper underscores the importance of addressing diverse stakeholder attitudes and providing empirical evidence to guide policy implementation and evaluation.

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic disease that may lead to death if not immediately recognized and treated. Triggers of anaphylaxis including food, drugs, and insect stings can vary widely. The incidence of anaphylaxis seems to be affected by age, sex, atopy, and geographic location. This study aims to examine the common triggers of anaphylaxis in Qatar. A total of 1068 electronic medical records were audited using power chart system: 446 from the medical coding system of anaphylaxis and 622 from the epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) dispensed during January 2012-December 2017. Of 1068 patients, 574 (53.5%) had anaphylaxis; male to female ratio was 1.2, and 300 patients (77.9%) were less than 10 years old. The common triggers were food (n = 316, 55.0%), insect stings (n = 161, 28.0%), and drugs (n = 103, 17.9%). Common anaphylaxis food triggers were nuts (n = 173, 30.1%), eggs (n = 89, 15.5%), and seafood (n = 72, 12.5%), and common anaphylaxis medication triggers were antibiotics (n = 49, 8.5%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 30, 5.2%). Interestingly, 135 anaphylactic patients (23.5%) were due to black ant stings. The anaphylaxis triggers varied significantly between children and adults. Among children (less than 10 years), three quarters of the events were triggered by food (223, 74.3%) while among adults (20-55 years), insect stings (n = 59, 43.0%) and drugs (n = 44, 32.0%) were dominant. This is the first national study stratifying anaphylaxis triggers among different age groups in Qatar. This study will serve as a guide for clinical practice in allergy clinics in Qatar and will help to assess future trends of anaphylaxis in Qatar.

The clinical practicum for biomedical science students aims to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills required to work in diagnostic laboratory settings. This study examines graduates’ perspectives on content, teachers and clinical training and their satisfaction rates based on the skills gained during training. The study was conducted on females who graduated from Qatar University between 2015 and 2020. We used a previously validated questionnaire called CPAT-QU. Telephonic interviews were conducted and were analyzed using SPSS. The results showed a high satisfaction rate, of 80%, for the content and organization of the clinical training. The participants’ main concerns included the evaluation criteria, as 8.7% were not satisfied. The students suggested increasing the length of the training in order to obtain experience that was more practical. The students’ satisfaction with the teachers was 70% in terms of their attitude, command of knowledge and ability to convey knowledge. In total, 69.5% of the graduates claimed that their instructors were interested in teaching and 4.4% claimed their instructors conveyed disinterest in teaching. The Qatar University graduates were satisfied with the content of their clinical training. However, they reported some gaps in this training. Identifying these gaps will help in restructuring clinical training to improve student experience.

Background: Infertility is a global health concern affecting millions of couples, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) emerging as a prominent solution. While IVF offers hope, it also presents significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, profoundly impacting the quality of life (QOL) of women undergoing treatment. The Fertility Quality of Life (Ferti-QOL) questionnaire provides a comprehensive framework to assess the multifaceted effects of IVF on QOL. Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence from cross-sectional studies that evaluated the QOL of women undergoing IVF using the Ferti-QOL questionnaire. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, for studies published up to July 2024. Studies were included if they used the Ferti-QOL questionnaire to measure QOL in women undergoing IVF and adhered to predefined inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and a meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled mean QOL scores and explore subgroup variations. Results: Eight cross-sectional studies were included, with a total sample size of 4,019 participants. The pooled mean Ferti-QOL score was 64.89 (95% CI: 61.15–68.63), indicating a moderate level of QOL. Subgroup analysis revealed that women under 35 years had lower QOL scores (61.94, 95% CI: 58.46–65.42) compared to women aged 35 years and above. Significant heterogeneity (I² = 54%) was observed among studies, reflecting diverse cultural and demographic influences. Conclusion: This review highlights the substantial impact of IVF on the QOL of women and underscores the need for individualized psychosocial support to address their unique challenges. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and culturally specific interventions to enhance patient-centered care.