The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to define the possible determinants of early initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding and to assess knowledge towards breastfeeding among Saudi mothers in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Six hundred forty-one Saudi mothers with singleton infants approximately 24 months old attending well-baby clinics at four urban and six rural primary health care centers were selected through the multistage sampling method. Eligible mothers were invited to a personal interview using pretested questionnaires to gather data regarding sociodemographics, health-related variables, breastfeeding initiation, and current breastfeeding practices and to assess mothers' knowledge about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was initiated by 77.8% of mothers within the first 24 hours of childbirth. Exclusive breastfeeding at birth was reported in 76.1%, which declined to 32.9% and 12.2% at the age of 2 and 6 months, respectively. Increased maternal age, multiparity (three or more children), and vaginal delivery were significant positive predictors for early breastfeeding initiation as revealed by stepwise logistic forward regression. Rural, less-educated, low-income multiparous mothers were more likely to exclusively breastfed their infants as revealed by multivariate logistic regression. Irrespective of educational status, surveyed mothers demonstrated several misconceptions towards breastfeeding. Furthermore, early initiations and exclusivity were significantly influenced by sociodemographics, especially maternal educational and employment status. The rate of initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding in Al Hassa is far below the World Health Organization recommendations.

Some 12.8 million in the age group 5–15 years are visually impaired from uncorrected or inadequately corrected refractive errors . In Saudi Arabia, the size of this public health problem is not well defined especially among primary schoolchildren. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among primary school children in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. A total of 2246 Saudi primary school children aged 6 to 14 years of both genders were selected using multistage sampling method form 30 primary schools located in the three different areas of Al Hassa. School children were interviewed to collect demographics and vision data using a special data collection form followed by screening for refractive errors by trained optometrists within the school premises using a standardized protocol. Assessment of visual acuity and ocular motility evaluation were carried out and cover-uncover test was performed. Children detected with defective vision were referred for further examination employing subjective refraction with auto refractometer and objective refraction using streak retinoscopy after 1% cyclopentolate. Of the screened school children (N=2002), the overall prevalence of refractive errors was 13.7% (n=274), higher among females (Odds ratio, OR=1.39, P=0.012) and significantly more among students of rural residence (OR=2.40, P=0.001). The prevalence of refractive errors was disproportionately more among those aged 12-14 years (OR=9.02, P=0.001). Only 9.4% of students with poor vision were wore spectacles for correction. Myopia was the most commonly encountered refractive error among both genders (65.7% of the total errors encountered). Uncorrected refractive errors affected a sizable portion of primary school children in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Primary schoolchildren especially females, rural and older children represents high risk group for refractive errors for which the included children were unaware.

We evaluated the use of a 4G smart phone for mobile teledermatology. A dermatologist took pictures of skin images with a mobile phone (8 Mpixel camera resolution) and made a face-to-face diagnosis. The images were transmitted to a second dermatologist who viewed them on a similar mobile phone and made an independent diagnosis for comparison. Images were taken and transmitted only after receiving informed consent from the patients. A total of 166 consecutive patients were included in the study (97 male and 69 female). A questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction was administered to each patient. Most of the responders were highly satisfied with teledermatology. However, 23 patients (14%) refused photography of the skin lesions (21 female and 2 males). The main reasons for refusal to be photographed were stated as social or religious. The broad categorical diagnostic and management concordance (i.e. when considering at least one of the diagnoses to be similar) was 95%. Specific diagnostic concordance varied according to the disease. The average kappa coefficient was 0.66 for diagnostic concordance and 0.82 for management concordance. Refusal to be photographed – a problem not limited to teledermatology – needs to be considered when designing teledermatology protocols for larger scale implementation in areas like the Middle East.

Objectives: To determine patterns of physical activity (PA) along domains of work-transport-leisure among adult Saudis, sociodemographic correlates of PA and perceived personal barriers to leisure-time-related physical inactivity in Al-Hassa, KSA.Methods: A cross-sectional study in which 2176 adult Saudis attending urban and rural Primary Health centers were selected using multistage proportionate sampling method. Participants were personally interviewed to gather information regarding sociodemographics, PA pattern using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and perceived barriers toward recreation-related PA. Analysis was carried out along GPAQ protocol.Results: Median total physical activity was 2304 METs-minutes/week. Fifty-two percent of subjects were sufficiently active meeting the minimum recommendations when considering total PA and 21% of the subjects were sufficiently active in leisure-time-related activity with ≥ 5 days of any combination of walking, moderate or vigorous-intensity activities with a total of at least 600 METs-minutes/ week. Regression analyses showed that females, higher educational and occupational status were negative predictors to total and leisure-related PA. Barriers perceived toward leisure-related PA included weather, traditions, lack of facilities and time.Conclusion: A low PA pattern along the 3 domains of PA may impose a refection toward more sedentary life style in Saudi Arabia.