Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a potential threat to global public health. Since there is an unprecedented global effort to develop a vaccine against the COVID-19 pandemic, much less is known about its acceptance in the community. Understanding key determinants that influence the preferences and demands of a future vaccine by the community may help to develop strategies for improving the global vaccination program. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and their determinants among people in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball sampling strategy under a highly restricted environment. A bilingual, self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and sent to the study participants through social media plat-forms and email. Study participants were recruited across the country, including the four major cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, and Abha) in Saudi Arabia. Key determinants that predict vaccine acceptance among respondents were modelled using logistic regression analysis. Of the 1000 survey invitees, 992 responded to the survey. Results: Of the 992 respondents, 642 showed interest to accept the COVID-19 vaccine if it is available. Willingness to accept the future COVID-19 vaccine is relatively high among older age groups, being married participants with education level postgraduate degree or higher (68.8%), non-Saudi (69.1%), employed in government sector (68.9%). In multivariate model, respondents who were above 45 years (aOR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.08– 3.21) and married (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.28– 2.50) were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Addressing sociodemographic determinants relating to the COVID-19 vaccination may help to increase uptake of the global vaccination program to tackle future pandemics. Targeted health education interventions are needed to increase the uptake of the future COVID-19 vaccine.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is considered a major global public health threat affecting across the life course and socioeconomic aspects of life. Global acceptance to an effective vaccine is the most anticipated resolution. This study aims to evaluate intent to be vaccinated among public in Saudi Arabia during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was designed in Saudi Arabia. Study participants (N = 658) were recruited through snowball sampling. The SurveyMonkey platform was used to record the response. Cross-tabulation was performed by participants' intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 virus with sociodemographic characteristics and respondents' risk perception toward COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system, and their history of vaccine hesitancy behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to compute the predictors of vaccination intention among the study participants.Results: Six hundred fifty-eight participants completed the survey (females = 47.4%). Of the 658 participants, 351 (53.3%) have shown intent to be vaccinated. Five hundred nineteen (78.8%) of the participants were reported to be at high risk of COVID-19, and 307 (46.6%) were reported to trust the healthcare system in the country. The multivariable analysis shows respondents with a high-risk perception (OR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.49–3.48); higher trust in the healthcare system (OR: 3.24, 95% CI: 2.32–4.61) was found to be the significant factor affecting the decision in acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia.Conclusion: Participants reported high knowledge toward COVID-19 virus, and vaccine developments. About half (46.6%) of the study participants reported refusal/hesitancy toward the vaccine during the second wave of the pandemic in Saudi Arabia. The study highlighted that higher risk perception and higher trust in the healthcare system were found to be the main reasons for participants' intentions behind the vaccination.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children under the age of 18 with a COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from January 2021 to March 2021. The univariate analysis using Mann–Whitney U-test, t-test, and chi-squared/Fisher’s exact test was performed to identify sociodemographic factors associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in children. Factors with statistical significance (p < 0.05) were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis to determine the variables affecting parents’ decisions to vaccinate children. Results: Overall, 44% (167) of parents reported that they would accept vaccinating their children with a COVID-19 vaccine. Young (86; 22.7%), married (135; 35.6%), and Saudi (114; 30%) parents seemed to be more concerned about their children being infected. Parents who intended to vaccinate themselves (OR: 0.599, 95% CI: 0.367–0.980) and who trust the healthcare system (OR: 0.527, 95% CI: 0.327–0.848) reported greater acceptance of children’s vaccination. Among parents, the most frequent (40.9%) reason for vaccinating children was to prevent infection in other family members. What may underlie this result is that some parents understand that children can carry pathogens from persons in school to thoseat home. The most frequent (22.2%) reason for refusing vaccination was concerns about the side effects of the vaccine. Conclusions: Parents have differing opinions on frequencies and risks of coronavirus disease transmission and medical complications and of effectiveness and adverse effects of a vaccine. These results could be of use in designing public health information campaigns and health promotion programs based on perceived parental behavior and positive attitudes.

Objective: Diabetes affected 463 million people globally in 2019, and this number is anticipated to reach 700 million by 2045. Diabetes results in lower limb amputation every 30 seconds. Egypt has a high prevalence of diabetic foot disease among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to identify high-risk patients for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in Egypt. Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study among adult patients with diabetes at Asyut University Hospital. Inlow’s 60-second diabetic foot screening tool was used to assess the risk of DFU. Neuropathy was assessed using the 10g monofilament test, and laboratory testing was performed to assess glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetes control levels. Results: Participants were aged 46.11 ± 9.18 years; 56% had T2DM and HbA1c levels >7%. In total, 47.9% of participants were at risk for DFUs. This risk was higher in patients who were older, male, widowed, working, illiterate, living in rural areas, and patients with diabetes duration >10 years, body mass index >32 kg/m², uncontrolled blood glucose levels, on an insulin regimen, and smokers. Conclusions: Increasing health care providers’ awareness and ability to identify high-risk patients is critical to prevent DFUs and reduce the risk of amputation.

Background Vaccine hesitancy is a potential threat to global public health. Since, there is an unprecedented global effort to develop a vaccine against the COVID-19 pandemic, much less is known about its acceptance in the community. Understanding key determinants that influence the preferences and demands of a future vaccine by the community may help to develop strategies for improving the global vaccination program. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine, and their determinants among people in Saudi Arabia. Methods A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball sampling strategy under a highly restricted environment. A bilingual, self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and sent to 1000 study participants through social media platforms and email. Study participants were recruited across the country, including the four major cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, and Abha) in Saudi Arabia. Associations between COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and sociodemographic profile of the respondents were explored using the chi-squared test. Key determinants that predict vaccine acceptance among respondents were modelled using logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 1000 survey invitees, 992 responded to the survey (response rate, 99.2%). The majority (65.8%) of the study participants were female, 29.53% were in the age group (36–45 years), and 17.9% were non-Saudi. Of the 992 respondents, 642 (64.72%) showed interest to accept the COVID-19 vaccine if it is available. Willingness to accept the future COVID-19 vaccine is relatively high among older age groups (79.2% among 45+ year old), being married (69.3%), participants with education level postgraduate degree or higher (68.8%), non-Saudi (69.1%), employed in government sector (68.9%). In multivariate model, respondents who were above 45 years (aOR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.08-3.21), and married (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.28-2.50) were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance (p <.05). Besides, people having trust in the health system were most likely to accept the vaccine (aOR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.13-4.92), and those having a higher perceived risk of acquiring infection were 2.13 times (95% CI: 1.35-3.85) higher odds of accepting the vaccine. Conclusion Addressing sociodemographic determinants relating to the COVID-19 vaccination may help to increase uptake of the global vaccination program to tackle future pandemics. Targeted health education interventions are needed to increase the uptake of the future COVID-19 vaccine.

Background: Globalization has steered the spread of vegetarianism around the world. Vegetarianism has achieved increased acceptance by different populations.Objective: The present study aims to assess vegetarian diet, and eating behavior prevalence among Saudi adults and their association with demographics and body mass index.Method: A cross-sectional study conducted on 1,143 Saudi adults [418 (36.6%) males and 725 (63.4%) females]. An online survey questionnaire containing questions on demographics, type of diet, eating behavior and physical activity was provided to participants for self-administration. Statistical analysis was performed to associate demographic and eating behavior variables with the type of diet using Pearson's Chi-square test and Spearman's partial correlation test was used to correlate BMI and eating behavior.Results: Prevalence of veganism was 4.7% (n = 54/1,143) and vegetarianism was 7.8% (89/1,143). A significantly higher prevalence of vegan diet was observed in females than males (79.6% vs. 20.4%, p < 0.0001). A significantly higher proportion of participants on vegetarian diet selected “Always” as response for eating breakfast, vegetables and fruits as well as for eating or drinking dairy foods, and for eating canned food than participants on non-vegetarian diet (p < 0.0001). A significantly higher proportion of participants on vegan diet selected ‘Never' for eating fast-food and fried food as well as for drinking fizzy or soft drinks (p < 0.0001). A positive moderate correlation was found between BMI and eating fast-food and fried food [r_{(1, 140)} = 0.529, p < 0.0001], drinking fizzy or soft drinks with meals [r_{(1, 140)} = 0.495, p = 0.001], and eating canned food [r_{(1, 140)} = 0.510, p < 0.0001].Conclusion: Our study shows that vegan and vegetarian diet have gained access into the lifestyle of Saudi adults with a prevalence of 4.7 and 7.8%, respectively. Participants on vegetarian diet showed better lifestyle like higher physical activity level, higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and low intake of fast-foods and fizzy beverages.