In treating chronic illnesses, such as sickle cell disease (SCD), outpatient care is essential; poor adherence in attending clinic appointments can lead to serious outcomes. SCD is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and patients with SCD are advised to follow up with their treating physician in order to control this disease manifestation and to better forecast its complications. Studies evaluating missed appointments among patients with SCD are rare. Therefore, the current study aimed to use the health belief model’s modifying factors in order to evaluate the variables associated with poor adherence in attending appointments. A total of 381 participants with SCD from various regions in the Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were included. The survey instrument included socioeconomic determinants, factors associated with poor adherence in attending outpatient appointments, and solutions under the conceptual framework of the health belief model. A descriptive analysis was conducted and the factors that impacted adherence in attending the appointments were evaluated. In the current sample, respondents with SCD from 21 to 30 years represented 41%, which was followed by participants who were 11 to 20 years at 21.5%. In addition, about 60% of the participants were women. Further, approximately 62% of the patients admitted were missing one or more outpatient appointments in the previous year, which was significantly related to various factors, such as socioeconomic characteristics and patient residence. Forgetting the appointment was the main reason for skipping outpatient appointments for patients with SCD; as such, reminders appear to be a good solution for most participants. Our findings indicated that modifying components of the health belief model, including age, level of education, income, patients’ residence, and lacking cues to action (such as reminders) are important in explaining the reason for poor adherence in attending appointments. Thus, efforts are needed to address these factors and to ensure that SCD patients uphold their appointments. Future studies should examine the clinical, psychological, and epidemiological aspects that are linked with missed consultations.

Background Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a significant public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aims to assess mothers' knowledge of acute rheumatic fever and their attitudes in the Jazan region. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between the mothers using an online survey. The knowledge level was ranked as poor, fair, and good. In contrast, the attitudes were ranked as positive or negative. Association with sociodemographic variables was assessed, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Four hundred thirty-six (436) mothers were included; 39.9% of them were aged 21-30 years, 68.8% were married, 57.3% were non-workers, and 72.2% were university-educated. Most of the mothers had a poor level of knowledge (53%); however, positive attitudes toward the disease were reported in 79.1% of mothers. The poor knowledge levels were related to age, marital status, occupation, and monthly income. Conclusion Despite having positive attitudes toward diagnosing and managing ARF, most of the mothers showed poor knowledge of acute rheumatic fever. This study highlights the situation in the Jazan region, which could be an essential basis for constructing an educational program to raise awareness and knowledge of acute rheumatic fever in the community.

Background: With the advancements in genetic testing, a differentiated evaluation for susceptibility to diseases is becoming applicable to many disorders. Understanding the circumstances and promoting the widespread use of these tests in the Saudi setting requires understanding public opinion and attitudes. This study aimed to determine the perception and attitudes of the public in the Jazan region to genetic testing. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of 507 participants was conducted in the Jazan region. The data were collected through an online questionnaire containing demographic information and statements assessing public perceptions and attitudes. Results: Our findings showed that perspectives toward genetic testing, especially premarital and prenatal testing, are generally positive and consistent with previous research. Approximately 79.1% of the participants had a positive attitude toward supporting a compulsory governmental decision of genetic screening before marriage, and 67.3% were willing to perform such testing in the future. More than half of the participants were willing to allow pregnancy termination if there was a higher probability of genetic disease in the baby. In contrast, only 29.6% agreed with the decision to divorce due to the higher probability of genetic disease in their children. The predictors for a positive attitude to genetic testing were nationality, marital status, and monthly income. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that there are acceptable perspectives and attitudes toward genetic testing, especially premarital and prenatal testing.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) were categorized as a high-risk group, as they might develop a series of life-threatening complications owing to systemic vasculopathy and their modulated immune system. In this review, 20 articles published between December 2019 and January 2021 were included, which reported cases of patients with SCD diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients and methods: A total of 343 patients with SCD worldwide were included (mean age is 25 years). Overall, 56% of the study population was female. A total of 322 patients had symptoms; 193 patients presented with vaso-occlusive crises and COVID-19 symptoms. Moreover, 15% reported only vaso-occlusive crises symptoms without COVID-19 symptoms. Typical acute chest syndrome symptoms were reported in 27 patients. Results: Overall, 79% of the population was admitted to hospitals. Blood transfusion was received by 51%, and 23% needed oxygen. Mortality was reported in 18 (5%) patients. The outcome of COVID-19 in patients with SCD did not significantly differ from the general population and seems better compared with the other vulnerable groups. Conclusion: Proinflammatory status in patients with SCD and frequent use of some medications, such as hydroxyurea, can explain this outcome and could be the reason for reduced COVID-19 complications in patients with SCD. Further molecular studies are needed to understand how SARS-CoV-2 could affect patients with SCD.

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) has a significant impact on the behavioral and cognitive development of children, and it is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies worldwide, primarily affecting infants, young children, and adolescents. Iron plays a crucial role in brain growth, myelination, neurotransmitter metabolism, and energy metabolism, particularly during the fast neurodevelopmental period of the first two years of life. Several studies reported that children with IDA have impaired attention span, poor memory, poor academic performance, delayed language acquisition, reduced problem-solving abilities, and lower scores in intelligence tests compared to their iron-sufficient peers. Longitudinal research concluded that early untreated IDA leads to irreversible changes in brain structure and function that persist into adolescence, even after hematological recovery. Early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of IDA are vital to safeguard optimal brain development and ensure children reach their full cognitive and behavioral potential. Addressing this issue requires a combination of nutritional interventions, supplementation programs, and caregiver education to reduce its lifelong impact. This review emphasizes the existing proof and evidence on the significant implications of IDA on the developing brain, clarifying the neurobiological mechanisms and establishing cognitive and behavioral deficits, evaluating the effectiveness of treatments, and discussing public health implications for prevention and early intervention by enhancing maternal health, providing nutritional education, and offering targeted supplementation.