Objectives: The burden of postpartum depression (PPD) is significant because it remains unrecognized, and it not only affects the mother adversely but also has a negative consequence on the family life and the development of the infant. The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence of PPD and identify the risk factors of PPD among mothers attending the well-baby clinic of six Primary Health Care centers in Abha city, Southwest Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A total of 228 Saudi women having a child aged between two weeks to one year were recruited in the study by using a consecutive sampling technique. The Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used as a screening tool to measure the prevalence of PPD. The mothers were also inquired about their socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors. Results: The prevalence rate of postpartum depression was 43.4%. Family conflict, and lack of support by spouse and family during pregnancy were found to be the strongest predictors of developing PPD. Women who had reported family conflict were at six times higher risk for developing PPD compared to those who did not have a family conflict (aOR = 6.5, 95% CI = 2.3–18.4). Women who reported a lack of spousal support during pregnancy encountered 2.3 fold increased risk for PPD (aOR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.0–4.8) and women who had not received family support during pregnancy period were more than three times (aOR = 3.5, 95 % CI 1.6–7.7) likely to experience PPD. Conclusion: The risk of PPD among Saudi postnatal women was high. PPD screening should be an integral part of postnatal care. Awareness of women, spouses and families about potential risk factors can be a preventive strategy. The early identification of high-risk women during the antenatal and post-natal period could help to prevent this condition.

Introduction: Pregnant and breastfeeding women comprise a high-risk group for the development of severe COVID-19. Therefore, vaccination is highly recommended for perinatal women; however, vaccination levels for this group remain inadequate. This study explores the percentage of COVID-19 vaccination among Saudi pregnant and lactating women, as well as their attitudes toward it. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey on a sample of Saudi pregnant and breastfeeding women. The study included pregnant and lactating women. Results: The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine uptake was 78.2%. A total of 45 (21.8%) out of 206 women did not receive the vaccine. The overall vaccine hesitancy was 21.8%. Breastfeeding women were 2.86 more likely not to receive the vaccine as compared to pregnant women. Being a mother of over five children increased the vaccine uptake among our participating women (n = 20, 90%; p < 0.01). The majority of the subjects had taken the Pfizer vaccine (81.98%, 132/161). The availability of the COVID-19 vaccine was the most common factor for choosing a particular vaccine. Protection from infection (60.2%, 97/161) was reported as the main driver for vaccine uptake. The most common reason perceived for delaying COVID-19 vaccination was being worried about the side effects (176, 85.44%) on one’s own body and the effects on the unborn child (130, 63.1%). Conclusion: We uncovered high levels of hesitancy, primarily induced by concerns about adverse effects and social media-related misinformation. These high levels of vaccine uptake are likely due to the large-scale obligatory vaccination program provided in Saudi Arabia, which was well-structured and far reaching. Our results provide further support for the so-called “protection motivation theory” in boosting vaccine acceptance. Counseling and educating pregnant and breastfeeding women about COVID-19 vaccination is the need of the hour.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. This study investigates the quality of life (QoL) of parents of children with ADHD, the discrimination they encounter, and their sources of information about the disorder. This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire through Google Forms from March to April 2023. Study participants were recruited using a convenient sampling technique from patient records in 4 regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was sent through commonly used social media. QoL was assessed through the validated Arabic version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form questionnaire. A total of 100 participants were recruited for this study. Most of the participants were from the southern region (80%, n = 80), 66.0% (n = 66) were mothers, 66.0% (n = 66) were married and 64% (n = 64) had a college degree. The mean scores of the physical, psychological, mental, environmental, total scales, and general QoL were (57.18 ± 13.67, 62.58 ± 17.49, 63.33 ± 23.12, 23.07 ± 12.87, 51.54 ± 14.34, 3.69 ± 1.06, respectively). Half of the population studied experienced discrimination with no significant differences between mothers and fathers (64% vs 68%, P = .833). The main source of information on ADHD was the Internet (49%) followed by schools (11%), and relatives (10%). Fifty-four percent of the participants have participated in workshops or seminars on neurodevelopmental disorders and 39.0% believed that schools and institutions are sufficiently equipped to support children with ADHD. ADHD had a profound impact on the QoL of parents, with a substantial portion facing discrimination due to their child condition. Additionally, parents showed a strong desire to acquire more information about ADHD, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding and support surrounding this condition.

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged 5 years old and younger poses a critical health concern, affecting both the general health of children and the emotional well-being of parents. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental understanding, attitudes, and experiences related to AOM and its management, including the use of antibiotics without physician prescription. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out during the months of May and June of 2023. To collect data for this study, a validated questionnaire was converted into a Google form and given to parents of children aged 5 years and younger who sought healthcare for their children in primary healthcare centers in Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 406 parents participated in this study, 64.8% of them were women and 45.3% of them were in the age range of 25 to 34 years. The majority (90.1%) resided in urban areas and a significant proportion (72.2%) had a university education. Among the respondents, 22.7% agreed that bacteria are the cause of AOM, while 21.7% agreed that it is caused by viruses. A total of 51.0% acknowledged the need for antibiotics in the management of AOM. In terms of treatment, 84.5% and 83.5% believed that analgesics and antibiotics, respectively, were the most effective for otalgia. A substantial portion, 43.1%, 34.7%, and 37.7%, respectively, believed that antibiotics could reduce pain, relieve fever, and prevent recurrence. Almost three-quarters sought medical advice primarily from paediatricians and 37.7% obtained information about AOM from the Internet. Furthermore, almost a third (28.8%) chose not to wait for the physician’s appointment and immediately administered antibiotics without the physician’s prescription due to concerns about disease progression. Approximately two fifths (38.4%) requested physicians to prescribe antibiotics, a pattern that was in agreement with the actual rate of antibiotic prescriptions (38.4%). Conclusions: A notable deficiency in knowledge and unsafe practices about AOM and its management is evident among parents in the Aseer region. This underscores the pressing need for an educational program aimed at improving parental health literacy regarding otitis media causes and treatments, as well as its preventive measures.

Breaking bad news is an intrinsic aspect of physicians’ clinical practices. This study aims to investigate how Saudi physicians manage the process of communicating bad news and explore potential differences in breaking bad news practices between young physicians (interns) and their older colleagues. From 1 March to 15 April 2023, ok an anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the communication practices of Saudi physicians concerning breaking bad news using the Communicating Bad News Questionnaire. The physicians were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods, and the survey questionnaire was distributed on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. Data were analyzed using R version 4.2.1. A total of 782 physicians were included in this study. Male physicians represented 50.9% of the participants. Three-quarters (74.7%) were aged 25–30 years. The largest proportion of physicians (45.3%) were interns, followed by junior residents (22.9%), senior residents (11.0%), and specialists (6.5%). The median years of experience was 1.0, ranging from 0 to 45 years. Regarding the place of work, most physicians (86.6%) worked in hospitals, while 13.4% worked in primary healthcare centers. A total of 14.8% said they were not comfortable with discussing patients’/relatives’ issues (20.60 among interns vs. 10.50% among non-interns, χ² = 27.50, p = 0.0001), 66.6% reported being trained to break bad news (59.60% among interns vs. 72.40% among non-interns, χ² = 14.34, p = 0.001), 59.1% reported breaking bad news to the patient, 37.9% reported to the family, and 3.1% reported to both, with no significant difference between interns and non-interns. A substantial proportion of physicians reported feeling uncomfortable discussing sensitive issues with patients and their relatives despite having received training to deliver bad news and being willing to communicate bad news directly to patients. Notably, our analysis identified a significant disparity between intern and non-intern physicians, particularly in terms of their comfort level in addressing patient-related concerns and access to breaking bad news training.

Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition causing hypergonadotropic hypogonadism before age 40, leading to menstrual irregularities, infertility, and estrogen deficiency. This study aimed to describe the clinical, endocrine, and reproductive characteristics of patients diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). and describe the distribution of these clinical and biochemical characteristics. Methods: This hospital-based retrospective study was conducted at King Faisal Specialized Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Medical records of patients diagnosed with POI between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The onset of POI occurred before 20 years of age in 64.1% of patients. The most common presenting symptoms included infertility (50%), menstrual disturbances (42.2%), delayed puberty (25%), and estrogen deficiency (25%). More than half of the patients were overweight or obese (29.7% each). A family history of POI was reported in 12.5% of cases. Autoimmune diseases were present in 60.9% of patients, while dyslipidemia (25%), and psychiatric disorders (14.1%) were also common. A history of abdominal/pelvic surgery (25%), chemotherapy (28.1%), and radiotherapy (7.8%) was noted. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed that 18.5% of patients had normal findings, while 23/54 (42.6%) had gonadal dysgenesis/agenesis, and 16/54 (29.6%) had uterine abnormalities. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 25/35 (71.4%) of patients, while 3/35 (17.1%) had vitamin D insufficiency, and 3/35 (8.6%) had hypervitaminosis D. Diabetes mellitus was observed in 6/60 (10%) of patients. Autoimmune markers were positive in a subset of patients: anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (15/64, 23.4%), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (12/64, 18.8%), rheumatoid factor (6/64, 9.4%), and other autoimmune markers 3/64 (4.7%). Bone mineral density was low in 23/44 (52.3%) of patients, and 2/44 (4.5%) had delayed bone age. Karyotype analysis identified Turner syndrome in 6/44 (13.6%) of patients, while 38/44 (86.4%) had a normal 46 XX karyotype. Molecular genetic testing for Fragile X syndrome identified one patient with a single gene mutation (1.6%) and one premutation carrier (1.6%). Conclusions: In this cohort, POI was commonly diagnosed before age 20 and was associated with delayed puberty, estrogen deficiency, infertility, and menstrual disturbances. Autoimmune diseases, vitamin D deficiency, and low bone mineral density were also frequently observed. The available data do not support identifying a predominant underlying etiology.