Experience of the health promotion clinics in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Context:Health promotion is the most important element of primary health care. Therefore, it is essential for the health team to apply such activity.Objective:To describe a newly established health promotion clinic at primary health care centers, in Abha city, KSA.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted during the year 2009. The files of 429 individuals were reviewed after one year from attending the health promotion clinics in Abha city, KSA. Master sheet was designed based on the relevant items of the file. The health promotion services used in the study were based on the recommendation of the relevant guidelines. Data entry and analysis was carried out using Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS). P-values less than 0.05 were selected for statistical significance.Results:After one year, the percentage of the individuals who intake imbalanced diet and did not perform any type of physical activity was more than 90% while 8% are currently smokers and 14% had depression. Clinical examination and investigation revealed that more than one quarter of our subjects were overweight. Obesity was 42% in males versus 51% in females (P<0.04). Pre-hypertension and hypertension were detected among 44 and 12% respectively. About one fifth of our subjects had pre-diabetes 21% and 3% were confirmed to have diabetes mellitus. Diet and physical activity counseling was given to all participants while referral to concerned clinics was done for individuals who suffer from high blood sugar, abnormal lipid profile, obesity and depression.Conclusion:This study demonstrated that health promotion clinics provided by trained professional health care team can be used as a new approach for early detection and management of the common health problems in primary health care centers.

Overweight and obesity among adults in the Gulf States: A systematic literature review of correlates of weight, weight‐related behaviours, and interventions

“…First, the results of the 84 eligible correlate studies are described, followed by the data on the seven intervention studies …”

A community screening plan for the prevalence of some chronic diseases in specified adult populations in Saudi Arabia-II: pre-hypertension and hypertension

“…However, some upsides can still be seen with this study's regard. For instance, the reported HTN proportion ranked third, e.g., among 5 other studies addressed for comparison: first, is Grossman et al study (30%), 42 second is Jeddah study (25.2%), 49 forth is the Abha attempt (12%) 25 fifth is the Kuwaiti screening 43 (7%), and lastly, the earlier Taif study (1.7%). The relative differences in some of these studies' population criteria, e.g., age range and setting, partly justify the differences in proportions of BP elevation patterns.…”

“…The prevalence of pre-HTN/HTN and some associated risks, most of which are modifiable, such as obesity, smoking, and dyslipidemia is rather challenging. However, planners should not be discouraged, e.g., by the modest results from Abha health promotion attempt 25 that probably meant to assess the program's outcome, e.g., before it has reached maturity. 10 The merits our population still enjoys, e.g., less likelihood of frank HTN and trivial treatment failure rate, make a well-planned lifestyle modification program success more likely.…”

“…Pre-HTN and HTN were therefore detected in 44 percent and 12 percent of the study population, respectively, and 21 percent of individuals had pre-diabetes. 25 The current work was based on the hypothesis that in view of the body of knowledge on the increasing risk of cardiovascular events by age, worrying reports of HTN with its variable degrees among Saudi adults and that disease severity is associated with age, priority groups, i.e., servicemen 40y and above need to be protected from the complications of HTN, e.g., through systematic screening, to help them maintain optimum health standards in pursuit of their patriotic mission.…”

“…Further, meticulous clinical trials to scrutinize the impact of non-pharmacological therapies upon BP and CVD events in patients with HTN, e.g., over periods up to 1 to 2 years showed that interventions, such as weight reduction in overweight patients ,10,11,12 increased physical activity, 13 sodium reduction, 14,15,16 potassium supplementation, 7,18,19,20 decreased alcohol intake, 21 Locally, the situation regarding the epidemiology of hypertensive diseases is no departure from that described in many other areas. In an epidemiologic study to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of HTN and pre-HTN among school teachers in Jeddah, [2006][2007]25.2% and 43.0% of the participants were found with HTN and pre-HTN, respectively. Only 30.4% of those with HTN were aware of their condition.…”