The African Journal of Primary Health & Family Medicine welcomes submissions that encourage scholarly exchange between family medicine and primary health care researchers and practitioners across Africa and the developing world, whilst providing a contextual and holistic view of family medicine as practiced across the continent.

Background: Patient safety (PS) has been identified as a significant healthcare challenge. A good safety attitude helps healthcare workers (HCWs) to decrease medical errors.Aim: This study aimed to assess the PS attitude and identify its determinants among HCWs.Setting: This study was conducted in Sharqia Governorate at different levels of health care.Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study that involved240 HCWs selected after using a multistage cluster sampling technique from Sharqia Governorate.In ordertto assess the respondents’ attitudes towards PS, the modified Chinese Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (CSAQ) was used.Results: The scale with the highest percentage of positive responses, on average, was safety climate (49.59%). The study found a statistically significant association between the level of health care and mean scores of ‘teamwork climate, perception of management, job satisfaction, working conditions, and stress recognition’ and the overall CSAQ score. In regression analysis, the highest degree of education and job type were significant predictors of PS attitude among the HCWs under study (p = 0.031 and 0.011, respectively).Conclusion: According to the study’s findings, PS is low among HCWs in both healthcare units and hospitals, with a significantly higher score among hospital workers than among primary care workers. All PS composites need improvement starting with regular assessment of PS culture along with continuous monitoring.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) standards have a unique role in controlling infection transmission. In Saudi Arabia, every healthcare facility is required to establish an IPC program to identify and reduce the risk of infection acquisition and transmission. This study aimed to estimate adherence to IPC measures after the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Najran City during the period of May to August 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was given to HCWs consisting of three parts: demographic data, profile of healthcare facility and healthcare professional regarding infection control, and questionnaire to assess the adherence of HCWs regarding infection control measures. The study recruited 580 HCWs, of whom 57.6% were males, and 46.6% were aged between 31 and 40 years. The overall mean adherence score was 103.2±9.71 out of 150 points. Accordingly, 88.4% were classified as having moderate adherence, 10.2% were good, and only 1.4% were classified as having poor adherence. Some of the factors associated with increased adherence to IPC measures, include being female, being a nurse, being a practitioner, working in the hospital emergency department, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit at a healthcare facility. There was satisfactory adherence among HCWs regarding infection prevention and control measures. Being a female, a nurse, a practitioner, working in a hospital emergency department, being a staff of a non-MOH (Ministry of Health) hospital, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit were identified as significant predictors of increased adherence. IPC measures can be optimized by setting up institutional IPC teams, necessary PPE, and periodic provision of IPC training.

BACKGROUND: The health clusters are currently working toward becoming accountable care organizations responsible for the health status and healthcare needs of their population and for the value-based utilization of resources driven by the population health management (PHM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In collaboration with the Health Holding Company and the Center for National Health Insurance, the Najran Health Cluster conducted its first 2024 community health needs assessment. Community-based participatory research was conducted using the quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative research was based on the secondary data collection and analysis, whereas qualitative research engaged 229 participants in Focus Group Discussions. The PHM team analyzed this data to profile the community and identify the health needs of the population. RESULTS: Based on the health profile of the Najran health cluster, the main community health needs were identified: Accessing specialized healthcare services, improving school health programs and chronic disease prevention, enhancing physical activity and healthy food choices, smoking prevention, and minimizing the hazards of technology. CONCLUSION: Najran faces complex demographic and epidemiological transitions, that present challenges and opportunities for its healthcare system and society. Strategic planning and targeted interventions are essential for the fostering of a thriving community.

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes, a high-risk, modifiable glycemic state, is an important target for the prevention of diabetes. In Saudi Arabia, primary-care screening infrastructure can support early detection and risk stratification, but program-based evidence on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)-defined prediabetes remains limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed routinely collected data from adults aged 35–70 years screened in the Najran Health Cluster from July to December 2025. Pregnant individuals and patients with known diabetes were excluded. HbA1c-defined glycemic status was classified as normal glycemia, prediabetes, or diabetes. Records with complete data were analyzed using SPSS; determinants of prediabetes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 139,446 eligible adults, 70,328 were screened, and 51,737 complete records were analyzed. The overall screening yield was 79.5% normal glycemia, 18.6% HbA1c-defined pre-diabetes, and 1.9% HbA1c-defined diabetes. Prediabetes was independently associated with older age, female sex, Saudi nationality, overweight, obesity, hypertension, family history of diabetes, higher comorbidity burden, and insufficient physical activity. For women, menopause, prior gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome were additional independent risk markers. CONCLUSION: HbA1c-defined pre-diabetes affected approximately one in five screened adults in Najran. Primary-care screening infrastructure can support structured prediabetes risk stratification and prevention-focused follow-up, particularly for older adults, individuals with excess body mass index or cardio-metabolic risk, and women with relevant reproductive histories.