The prevalence of obesity and overweight has been rapidly increasing and is significantly higher among adult females in the Arab States. The aim of the present study was to explore pregnant Emirati women’s perception of their weight, their knowledge of the healthy gestational weight gain, and the possible weight-related pregnancy complications. A total of 526 self-administered questionnaires were obtained with a response rate of 72%. The majority (81.8%, n = 429) entered pregnancy as overweight or obese. The percentage of pregnant women who underestimated their weight category was 12.1% in normal weight participants, 48.9% in overweight participants, and 73.5% in obese participants (p < 0.001). The overweight and obese participants were 13 times more likely to underestimate their weight status and 3.6 times more likely to correctly select their healthy gestational weight gain. Women’s awareness of pregnancy-related complications due to weight varied from 80.3% for diabetes to 44.5% for fetal complications; their awareness of breastfeeding difficulty was the lowest at 2.5%. Moreover, there was a misconception about personal BMI and the appropriate range for gestational weight gain (GWG). Healthy lifestyle counselling urgently needs to be addressed in preventative health programs such as pre-marital and preconception counselling.
BackgroundIn recent years, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has escalated. Evidence suggests that there are strong associations between nutrition in early life and the risk of disease in adulthood. This manuscript describes the study protocol of the First United Arab Emirates National Representative Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS), with the objective of investigating nutrition and lifestyle factors in the first 1,000 days of life. The main aims of the study are (1) to address critical issues relating to mother and child nutrition and their effect on growth and development, (2) to profile maternal nutrition, child growth, health, and development outcomes in early life, and (3) to study the associations between these factors among the Emirati population in the UAE.Methods/DesignIn this study, a multidisciplinary team of researchers was established including credible researchers from the UAE, Lebanon, Australia, and the United Kingdom to launch the First United Arab Emirates 3-year birth cohort study. We aim to recruit 260 pregnant Emirati women within their first trimester, which is defined by the study as from 8 to 12 weeks pregnant, from obstetrics and gynecology clinics in the UAE. Participants will be recruited via face-to-face interviews and will receive a total of 11 visits with 1 visit in each trimester of pregnancy and 8 visits after delivery. Maternal data collection includes, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, maternal psychological state, and blood samples for biochemical analysis. Post-partum, visits will take place when the child is 0.5, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months old, with data collection including infant anthropometric measurements, young child feeding practices, dietary intake, supplement use and the eating environment at home, as well as all maternal data collection described above, apart from blood samples. Additional data collection for the child includes early child developmental assessments taking place at three timepoints: (1) within 2 weeks of birth, (2) at 10–14 months and (3) at 22–26 months of age. Early child developmental assessments for the infant include vision, hearing, cognition, motor skills, social-emotional reactivity, neurodevelopmental, and sleep assessments.DiscussionThe United Arab Emirates Birth Cohort study protocol provides a standardized model of data collection methods for collaboration among the multisectoral teams within the United Arab Emirates to enrich the quality and research efficiency in early nutrition, thereby enhancing the health of mothers, infants, and children.
One of the most frequent cancers that affects males globally is cervical cancer (CC) that kills hundreds or even thousands of women each year, particularly in underdeveloped nations. The study focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV) that contributes to cervical cancer (CC) development. In the majority of Arab nations, there seems to be no public education or vaccination programs. In research, methodological rigor is employed to find solutions to both theoretical and practical difficulties. This research aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of the HPV vaccination among Emirati men. Results of the research showed that Emirati males had a poor understanding of HPV and its vaccination. According to the findings of this research, Emirati males lack a basic understanding of HPV, which necessitates the implementation of national HPV education initiatives. We have identified several critical knowledge gaps that can be filled in the future regarding HPV infection and vaccination.
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), due to its regional occurrence, is a marginalized issue in the international arena. The aim of the study was to verify reasons for performing a procedure prohibited by international and domestic law. A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses and doctors practicing in the UAE. The study was conducted from the 1 of January 2020 to the 31 of December 2021. The total number of recruited individuals who agreed to participate was 120, with the rate of return being 82%. About half of the participants (n = 59, 49.2%) have seen FGM/C patients in their UAE practice. Regarding medical staff, the total knowledge score concerning possible complications of the performed procedure was assessed at 64%, i.e., at a moderate level. None of our study participants had previously performed any type of FGM/C. However, 6.7% were willing to do it upon a mother’s or guardian’s request. About 83% of study participants stated that FGM/C should be halted internationally. Only 26.7% of the medical practitioners were aware of UAE law concerning FGM/C, while 50% had no knowledge concerning this issue. The present study reveals that cultural conditions take priority over medical knowledge, making medical practitioners inclined to accept the circumcision of girls and women. The crucial goals of future activities should focus on sensitizing society and the medical community, the need to create clear laws penalizing the practice, and the legal obligation to report the circumcision of a girl or woman.
This is the most frequent sexually transmitted illness on the planet, and both men and women are equally vulnerable. HPV is associated with a broad variety of female disorders, including 99 percent of all cervical cancer cases. Specifically, the goal and contributions of this study are to determine Emirati men’s opinions about the HPV vaccination, specifically whether they would use it themselves or allow their female relatives to use the vaccine. To collect the primary data, a statistical cross-sectional survey was conducted. This quantitative study was conducted using primary sources of data. A questionnaire survey with a sample size of 390 participants was used to collect data from 400 individuals. Male university students in the United Arab Emirati men have a weak grasp of HPV and are averse to vaccination (Ortashi et al., 2013). The percentage of Emirati men who accept the HPV vaccination is 37%. A total of 40.3% of the respondents opted not to participate in the survey at all. Eighty-six percent of the women surveyed had heard of cervical cancer, and one-third believed that they were at risk in the future. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed said that the HPV vaccination was safe, while 26% said it was unsafe. Respondents were just 3.1 percent vaccinated, and their family members were only 87% not vaccinated.
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