Introduction: The well-being of populations is crucial for understanding nations’ public health and progress. With its ongoing transformation and development objectives, Saudi Arabia emphasizes its residents’ quality of life and well-being. Recent surveys and health indicators have underlined the nation’s focus on enhancing population well-being. Aim: This study aimed to assess the overall level of well-being of the population living in Saudi Arabia using the WHO-5 index and self-rated health (SRH) metrics. Subject and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among thirty-nine thousand five hundred and sixty-two people from the general population in Saudi Arabia, citizens and residents, including all adult age groups (>18 years) and both genders. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the Saudi adult population using an online survey. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic characteristics, the five-item Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the self-rated health status. Results: Based on SRH, 77.4% were considered a healthy group. Male gender participants who had a better education were more likely to report a favorable SRH. According to WHO-5, poor well-being was seen in 26% of the population, and the rest had good well-being (74%). Independent predictors for good well-being include increasing age and educational level and being unemployed. Interestingly, we found a positive significant correlation between SRH and WHO-5 scores (r = 0.371; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Poor well-being was common among the general population. Independent risk factors for poor well-being include female gender and Saudi nationality, while increasing age, male gender, and higher education were significant predictors of healthy SRH. More longitudinal studies are needed to extract more data on this nation’s growing prevalence of poor self-rated health status.

Large mass gathering events significantly increase the risk of infectious disease transmission, particularly respiratory infections, due to unavoidable overcrowding and exposure to airborne pathogens. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of cough, its duration, and associated symptoms during the religious mass gathering event among pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj season. This cross-sectional study was conducted during Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 2024. A face-to-face random interview utilizing a structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from 2,913 pilgrims, who were randomly selected as participants and were at least 18 years old. Baseline demographic data and clinical characteristics were compiled using descriptive statistics. Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations, while categorical data were illustrated as counts and percentages. Among 2913 Hajj pilgrims, the average age was 53.9 ± 11.8 years, and 1,173 (40.4%) reported cough symptoms. The highest prevalence was in the 50–64 age group (60.7%). Chronic diseases were significantly more common in patients with cough (53.3%). Diabetes (357 cases) and hypertension (330 cases) were the most common conditions. Of the 1,173 participants with cough, 10.3% reported no associated symptoms, while sore throat (30.8%) was the most common. Logistic regression confirmed chronic disease, nationality, and age as significant predictors of cough. A significant number of cough symptoms were reported, with the highest incidence in older adults. Additionally, notable associations were identified between cough and pre-existing health conditions, particularly diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic heart disease, and asthma.. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of cough and its related symptoms or use of medications in mass gatherings.

Background: The Hajj pilgrimage, a significant religious event, presents unique health challenges due to the large number of participants and the physical demands of the pilgrimage. Despite efforts by Saudi health authorities to provide comprehensive health services, the effectiveness of these interventions relies heavily on pilgrims’ knowledge of available services and emergency measures. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge of health services among Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during the 1445 H (2024 G) season and its associated demographic and health-related factors. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the 1445 H (2024 G) Hajj season with 1215 pilgrims, 51.7% male. Participants were randomly selected from selected pilgrimage accommodations or passing through the airport in Jeddah. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, health characteristics, and knowledge of health services. Results: The study found that 62.1% of participants correctly believed that health services during Hajj were free of charge. Furthermore, 44.4% were aware of the emergency health number, with 31.5% exhibiting good knowledge. Bivariate analysis showed that younger participants had better knowledge (p < 0.001), and males were more likely than females to demonstrate partial or good knowledge (p = 0.011). Participants with university education were significantly more likely to have good knowledge, with 29.6% demonstrating good knowledge compared to 7.4% of illiterate participants (p < 0.001). Geographic region was also a factor, with 48.9% of Middle Eastern participants exhibiting good knowledge, compared to 27.1% of African and 23.6% of Asian participants (p < 0.001). However, multivariable logistic regression, revealed that only younger age (OR = 0.98, p = 0.005), university education (OR = 1.96, p = 0.024), and being from the Middle East (OR = 1.61, p = 0.009) were significant predictors of good knowledge of health services. Conclusions: The study identified significant gaps in pilgrims’ knowledge of health services during Hajj, with younger age, higher education, and Middle Eastern geographic region identified as independent predictors of better knowledge. These findings suggest the need for targeted health education initiatives, particularly for older pilgrims, those with lower educational attainment, and individuals from regions with lower awareness levels, to improve knowledge and potentially enhance health outcomes during Hajj.

Background: Risk communication during public health emergencies is a demanding and dynamic public policy process. In this paper, we provide an overview of risk communication during public health emergencies by discussing the theoretical foundations of risk perception. While communication is a complex art and a science that helps to facilitate daily life, it may also be misused, leading to a multitude of problems. Communication is essential in situations that involve threats to public health and safety. Methodology: An extensive literature review was performed, and various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were consulted to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles. A two-stage analysis of the collected literature was then conducted: In the first stage, a comprehensive examination was carried out to identify and categorize the factors affecting risk communication, such as media effectiveness, public trust, and governmental policies. The second stage focused specifically on Saudi Arabia as a case study to analyze the unique cultural, social, and governmental factors that shape risk communication in public health emergencies within the country. Conclusion: Effective crisis management relies on open lines of communication; this is why risk communication is so important. Thus, it is essential to utilize the proper channels and sources and to ensure stakeholders' participation in the dissemination of information, since such information may contain sensitive details that might trigger widespread fears. Moreover, implementing a risk communication strategy that connects with and addresses people's concerns is essential for increasing public involvement in disaster planning and response, as well as for providing access to accurate and timely information about an impending crisis.

Background: Heat-related illnesses (HRI) are defined as elevated body core temperatures when exposed to an intense high temperature. HRIs include but ...