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Background: Health policy and systems research (HPSR) can strengthen health systems and improve population health outcomes. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), there is limited recognition of the importance of HPSR and funding remains the main challenge. This study seeks to: (1) assess the reporting of funding in HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 in the EMR, (2) examine the source of funding in the published HPSR papers in the EMR and (3) explore variables influencing funding sources, including any difference in funding sources for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related articles. Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review of HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 (inclusively) in the EMR, addressing the following areas: reporting of funding in HPSR papers, source of funding in the published HPSR papers, authors' affiliations and country of focus. We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for conducting scoping reviews. We also conducted univariate and bivariate analyses for all variables at 0.05 significance level. Results: Of 10,797 articles screened, 3408 were included (of which 9.3% were COVID-19-related). More than half of the included articles originated from three EMR countries: Iran (n = 1018, 29.9%), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n = 595, 17.5%) and Pakistan (n = 360, 10.6%). Approximately 30% of the included articles did not report any details on study funding. Among articles that reported funding (n = 1346, 39.5%), analysis of funding sources across all country income groups revealed that the most prominent source was national (55.4%), followed by international (41.7%) and lastly regional sources (3%). Among the national funding sources, universities accounted for 76.8%, while governments accounted for 14.9%. Further analysis of funding sources by country income group showed that, in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, all or the majority of funding came from international sources, while in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, national funding sources, mainly universities, were the primary sources of funding. The majority of funded articles' first authors were affiliated with academia/university, while a minority were affiliated with government, healthcare organizations or intergovernmental organizations. We identified the following characteristics to be significantly associated with the funding source: country income level, the focus of HPSR articles (within the EMR only, or extending beyond the EMR as part of international research consortia), and the first author's affiliation. Similar funding patterns were observed for COVID-19-related HPSR articles, with national funding sources (78.95%), mainly universities, comprising the main source of funding. In contrast, international funding sources decreased to 15.8%. Conclusion: This is the first study to address the reporting of funding and funding sources in published HPSR articles in the EMR. Approximately 30% of HPSR articles did not report on the funding source. Study findings revealed heavy reliance on universities and international funding sources with minimal role of national governments and regional entities in funding HPSR articles in the EMR. We provide implications for policy and practice to enhance the profile of HPSR in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the current Civil War in Yemen based on Human Needs Theory. Developed by John Burton, Human Needs Theory rests on the premise that certain groups of people resort to violence when their basic needs are not met or when they need understanding, respect, and consideration for their needs. Needs for security and identity recognition are particularly salient in civil wars and devastating identity conflicts. An important conclusion is that many of the human needs violations that the Shia minority group has suffered in Yemen stem from the long-established Sunni-Shia conflict that has fueled this civil war. This has caused Saudi Arabia (i.e., Sunni) and Iran (i.e., Shia) to support both sides of the conflict. As a result, a significant number of Yemenis have had difficulties living out their religious identity and achieve well-being. In particular, not only have their basic human rights been denied (i.e., essential needs to maintain survival) but, also, basic aid to children has been rejected as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict is an ongoing struggle for influence in the region that has created uncertainty, affected oil prices and regional economics. This paper uses wavelet analysis to examine the frequency and time-varying co-movement and casual nexus between petroleum prices (OP) and financial liquidness (MS) with and without geopolitical risk (GPR). The aim is to test the validity of the monetary equilibrium model from 1988 to 2019. The model is supported by the findings, as both short and medium-term association is found between OP and MS at high frequencies in the presence of GPR. We find a medium-term association between OP and MS in the absence of GPR. The paper's overall conclusion suggests that GPR affects OP and OP, in turn, impact MS. Diversifying economic activities to minimize oil dependency, which is sensitive to external shocks, is suggested as a mitigation solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two major drivers of conflictual relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran: sectarian schism and power politics. The protracted enmity and rivalry has been analyzed in light of uncertainty and security dilemma through the prism of constructivism. The application of the theoretical lens provides clarity and supersedes the reductionist analysis of this squabble. The inception of the Shia-Sunni schism and Saudi-Iran rivalry has been investigated in greater length. Within this context, the deterioration of relations due to Saddam Hussein's demise, the Arab Spring, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's execution, and the impact of Trump's administration in the US have also been examined. Conclusively, this paper argues that security dilemma and uncertainty of each other's actions is the driving force and primary cause of Saudi-Iran rivalry rather than sectarian divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an innovative approach to visual analysis in the Middle East. It addresses a fundamental problem in the fields of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Securitization Theory (ST): they largely ignore the visual. This project develops a methodology for visual analysis. Its utility is demonstrated through an examination of a Saudi propaganda video, entitled "Saudi Strike Force Video." When observing the Saudi‐Iranian rivalry on social media, there is a prevalence of visceral visual propaganda. Thus, the need for the construction of a systematic model for its analysis is important in addressing this conceptual gap. CDA and ST are aligned on an essential belief that discourse is a power‐laden process, and that to affect change, scholars must attempt to understand its production, articulation, and impact. Yet, both of these approaches tend to focus on the written and spoken word, negating the importance of the visual. This paper contends that the visual is equally power‐laden, having a profound effect as a tool of propaganda [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addressed the regional and international reasons that prompted Saudi Arabia and Iran to engage in an agreement (Beijing: 10/3/2023). The research derives its importance from the fact that it deals with a topic of great importance and exceptionality, and has a great impact, whether at the level of the region or the world. The historical and analytical approaches were used to address the research problem: What are the regional and international reasons that prompted Saudi Arabia and Iran to engage in the (Beijing) agreement? The study is presented in two parts: the first dealt with the regional causes and the with the international causes. In addition to an introduction, conclusion and recommendations. Among the most prominent search results: -The failure of the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen since 2015 AD; One of the most important reasons for its rapprochement with Iran. Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman's economic vision 2030 AD; I made him work to zero Saudi Arabia's problems in the region. - Continuing Western-economic sanctions on Iran, and popular discontent with the deterioration of living conditions; They made it converge with Saudi Arabia. -America's military withdrawal from the Middle East region and its indifference to Saudi Arabia's demands; pushed it to an agreement with Iran. -China's sponsorship of the consultations; As a superpower, it had a major role in Saudi Arabia and Iran reaching the agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been unfolding over a long period, influencing the politics and conflicts in the Middle East. The dynamics, content, and form of the rivalry have changed dramatically following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Sectarianism is frequently seen as the constitutive element of the conflict between the two countries. This paper brings a new light into the literature on the nature of the evolving Saudi–Iran rivalry. Specifically, it explains Saudi Arabia's ideational balancing and threat perception against Iran by highlighting the ontological security narratives under which the Saudi–Iran rivalry evolves. In doing so, it draws on the fatwas (i.e., religious opinions), issued by Saudi scholars, as an empirical object of investigation, and explores how they constitute and reconstitute Saudi Arabia's ontological security narratives. In this way, this work critically explains the ontological security regime in Saudi Arabia and the nature of the political struggle and antagonism between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic law seeks the harmonious continuation of families and family structure, setting out detailed principles of family life in the main sources of sharī‘a, the Qur‘an and Sunna. That said, the termination of marriage is considered an acceptable solution by Islamic jurists, if the spouses do not fulfil their obligations toward each other due to inharmonious relationship or existing dissention and where there is no hope of reconciliation. This paper seeks to compare the types of divorce within the Ḥanbalī and Ja‘farī schools in order to shed light on the classical period divorce practices and the methodologies of these two schools. Successful divorces are categorised into wājib, mubāh, makrūh, or ḥaram according to their legal validity. In addition to this, divorce practices are also divided into four main types which extend from their implementation and procedural methods; ṭalāq, khulʿ, ṭāliq or tafwīḍ, and tafrīq. The research aims to compare the unilateral divorce right of the man (ṭalāq), woman-initiated divorce (khulʿ), conditional divorce (ṭāliq or tafwīḍ) and judicial termination (tafrīq) by focusing on the opinions of authoritative Ḥanbalī and Ja‘farī scholars. Applying textual comparative methodology and legal perceptual analysis, the study aims to uncover the existent connection between Islamic legal methodologies and different schools when the scholars address any problems and issues related to divorce practice. Although both schools use different methodologies and sources, the similarity of rulings prevail over the differences due to the fact that the marital issues concerning divorce are mainly solved with the main sources (aslī) rather than secondary sources (fer‘ī). This comparative research, therefore, aims to shed lights on the similarities between these schools and to clarify the differences regarding the interpretation of legal sources. At the same time, the paper seeks to identify the convergences and divergences between the divorce practices of the two schools. Comparative analysis of divorce types in Ḥanbalī and Ja‘farī schools intents to offer a broad perspective to explore the contemporary divorce practices in Muslim countries whose citizens are the followers of these schools. Instead of making a general comparison between the Sunnī and Shi‘ī traditions, the research aims to compare the classical Ḥanbalī school which forms the basis of family law in contemporary Saudi jurisprudence with the classical Ja‘farī school which forms the basis of family law in the contemporary Iranian jurisprudence. This comparison brings out the influence of the classical schools upon the modern jurisprudences of Saudi Arabia and Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Definition: What are the reasons for Saudi Arabia's conservative foreign policy shift to an aggressive approach after the Arab spring in Yemen? Purpose: Investigating and analyzing the causes of the Saudi military invasion of Yemen from two geopolitical and ideological aspects and its impact on Saudi Arabia's balancing policy with Iran. Methodology: The study was conducted using the descriptive-analytic method. Data collection method was library one using scientific and research papers and online sites. The theoretical framework of this paper was derived from the theory of balance of power, which emphasizes the (relative) equality of power between the two rival blocs, providing a useful theoretical framework for examining the shift in the conservative approach of Saudi foreign policy to the aggressive approach following the Arab spring developments in Yemen. Result: The findings of this article suggest that Ansarullah's full control over Yemen could change the balance of power for Iran's benefit by endangering Saudi security (provoking Shiites in the south and east as well as threatening oil transit through the strategic Bab al- Mandab Strait) and expand its sphere of influence in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has changed its conservative foreign policy approach to an aggressive foreign policy towards Yemen after changes in Islamic awakening for expanding its influence and maximizing its security on the one hand and to curb the expansion of Iranian influence in the region with the aim of weakening the axis of resistance and balancing strategy on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of Egyptian Shi'ism by providing historical context as well as a focus on actual or current issues. The study includes a historical overview of local Shi'ism (Fatimid period, late nineteenth century, 1940s-1960s, and contemporary period); Shi'i institutions and personalities; the situation following Egypt's 2011 revolution; the hectic one-year government of the Muslim Brotherhood (2012-2013); President al-Sisi's authoritarian takeover; and, finally, an exploration of the current geopolitical stakes, focusing mainly on the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran over religious hegemony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most important issues in public policy and welfare state is health care. Poor management leads to the waste of resources, including money, human resources, facilities, and equipment. Aims: This paper seeks to answer the question of which eastern Mediterranean countries are more effective in allocating their health resources, and does Iran, in relation to those countries, have an effective health system. Methods: This study examined technical efficiency among eastern Mediterranean countries in 2018. Data were extracted from Global Health Observatory data World Health Organization. We applied input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to estimate efficiency scores. Inputs are Physicians density per 10,000 populations, Total hospital beds per 10,000 populations, Current expenditure on health, % of gross domestic product and outputs are infant survival rate and Life expectancy. Results: The most efficient health systems in the eastern Mediterranean were Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. The inefficient countries are Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Palestine and Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: Among the efficient countries, one category of high-entry countries such as Bahrain and Qatar with high input especially in health expenditure had higher output. The second group of countries with lower inputs such as Iran and Morocco has been able to produce similar output with other countries. Also, inefficiency in countries such as Saudi Arabia can be attributed to this with higher input such as health expenditure has lower output such life expectancy and infant survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was to critically appraise, synthesise and present the evidence of medication errors amongst hospitalised patients in Middle Eastern countries, specifically prevalence, nature, severity and contributory factors. Methods: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Pubmed and Science Direct were searched for studies published in English from 2000 to March 2018, with no exclusions. Study selection, quality assessment (using adapted STROBE checklists) and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. A narrative approach to data synthesis was adopted; data related to error causation were synthesised according to Reason's Accident Causation model. Results: Searching yielded 452 articles, which were reduced to 50 following removal of duplicates and screening of titles, abstracts and full-papers. Studies were largely from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. Thirty-two studies quantified errors; definitions of 'medication error' were inconsistent as were approaches to data collection, severity assessment, outcome measures and analysis. Of 13 studies reporting medication errors per 'total number of medication orders'/ 'number of prescriptions', the median across all studies was 10% (IQR 2–35). Twenty-four studies reported contributory factors leading to errors. Synthesis according to Reason's model identified the most common being active failures, largely slips (10 studies); lapses (9) and mistakes (12); error-provoking conditions, particularly lack of knowledge (13) and insufficient staffing levels (13) and latent conditions, commonly heavy workload (9). Conclusion: There is a need to improve the quality and reporting of studies from Middle Eastern countries. A standardised approach to quantifying medication errors' prevalence, severity, outcomes and contributory factors is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karezes (qanats), historically vital sources of water for multiple uses in the driest parts of the world, have been deteriorating over the past five decades. This paper provides a review of the global literature on the status and potential of karezes, and offers country case studies for Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It offers syntheses of key issues, lessons, options and proposed interventions for re-vitalizing the karez systems. The paper identifies criteria for prioritizing karez systems for rehabilitation and outlines key conditions for their effective functioning and sustainability. The paper suggests that the benefits of restoring karez systems to local communities are large and some systems, such as the Ain Zubaida in the Makkah Al-Mukaramah Region, are of global importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently obtained ceramic compositional data from the late Iron Age sites of Tepe Yahya in Iran and Sharm in the United Arab Emirates is presented in this paper. Analysis of this data suggests that a distinctive ceramic, Burnished Maroon Slipped Ware (BMSW), was produced somewhere in southern Iran and exported across the Gulf to eastern Arabia. That this trade was not limited to any defined historical period, such as that represented by the Achaemenid Empire, is suggested by a series of new AMS C14 dates from Tepe Yahya. The paper concludes with speculative comments on the possible elite nature of BMSW in societies on either side of the Straits of Hormuz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is classified into seven genotypes and more than 100 subtypes. The treatment regimen, duration and efficacy of HCV therapy may vary according to the HCV genotype. Therefore, the HCV genotype should be determined prior to antiviral therapy. The objective of the current study was to review systematically all studies reporting the distribution of HCV genotypes in the countries that make up the Middle East. Evidence Acquisition: Articles were identified by searching electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed and Google scholar, with timeline limits (articles published between 1995 and 2016). We carried out a systematic search regarding the distribution of HCV genotypes in Middle Eastern countries. Results: A total of 579 studies were identified by the electronic search. Of these, a total of 187 were identified as eligible papers including 60,319 patients who were meta-analyzed for pooled distribution of HCV genotypes. In Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, and Iran, genotype 1 was the most prevalent HCV genotype with rates of 82% (95% CI, 82%-83%), 68% (95% CI, 67%-69%), 68% (95% CI, 59%-77%), and 55% (95% CI, 54%-55%), respectively. In Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, HCV genotype 4 was the most common genotype with rates of 86% (95% CI, 85%-88%), 60% (95% CI, 56%-64%), 56% (95% CI, 54%-55%), and 57% (95% CI, 54%-61%), respectively. On the basis of adjusted data, HCV genotype 4 was the most prevalent genotype in the Middle East region, with a rate of 74.7% (95% CI, 73.4%-76%), followed by genotype 1 at 15.1% (95% CI, 14.1%-16%). Conclusions: Our results showed that HCV genotype 4 is the most prevalent genotype in the Middle East region. However, HCV genotype 1 is the most prevalent among non-Arab countries in the region including Turkey, Iran, Cyprus, and Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Stem cell research is very promising. The use of human embryos has been confronted with objections based on ethical and religious positions. The recent production of reprogrammed adult (induced pluripotent) cells does not - in the opinion of scientists - reduce the need to continue human embryonic stem cell research. So the debate continues. Islam always encouraged scientific research, particularly research directed toward finding cures for human disease. Based on the expectation of potential benefits, Islamic teachings permit and support human embryonic stem cell research. The majority of Muslim scholars also support therapeutic cloning. This permissibility is conditional on the use of supernumerary early pre-embryos which are obtained during infertility treatment in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. The early pre-embryos are considered in Islamic jurisprudence as worthy of respect but do not have the full sanctity offered to the embryo after implantation in the uterus and especially after ensoulment. In this paper the Islamic positions regarding human embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning are reviewed in some detail, whereas positions in other religious traditions are mentioned only briefly. The status of human embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning in different countries, including the USA and especially in Muslim countries, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we have investigated the differences between the prices of different commercial oils of the Persian Gulf region. The prices of 7 different crude oils from Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Dubai were compared with the benchmark light oil of Saudi Arabia over the period January 2000–April 2010. A neural network is introduced to forecast the price of any commercial oil in these crude oils, provided that the price of the benchmark light oil of Saudi Arabia is already known or is predicted by another forecasting method. The designed neural network is able to predict the differences in the oil prices with an average error of 8.82% for testing and 7.24% for training data. It is claimed that the present method can promote the forecasting power of existing models to predict the price of any commercial oil instead of an average or benchmark value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the effects of oil price shocks on industrial production in three oil-exporting countries, namely Iran, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia using annual data for the period 1970–2005. First, the Gregory and Hansen cointegration technique, allowing for the presence of potential structural breaks in data, is applied to empirically examine the long-run co-movement between oil price and output. Second, we test whether different measures of oil price shocks, including non-linear or asymmetric ones, Granger-cause output. The results indicate a strong causality from oil price shocks to output growth for Iran and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the oil prices–output relationship in these two countries appears more significant when asymmetric specifications are used to model the relationship between variables. In the case of Indonesia, however, none of the oil proxies have any significant effect on output both in the short and long run. The results confirm the relatively successful experience of countries such as Indonesia in the diversification of the real sector to minimise the harmful effects of oil booms and busts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the causality issue between energy consumption and economic growth for three typical oil-exporting countries: Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. We use two different test methods to test for causality, namely, the error correction model and Toda-Yamamoto (1995) procedure. The results based on both approaches consistently show a unidirectional long-run causality from economic growth to energy consumption for Iran and Kuwait and unidirectional strong causality from energy consumption to economic growth for Saudi Arabia. So, the results support the neutrality hypothesis of energy consumption with respect to economic growth for Iran and Kuwait and vice versa for Saudi Arabia. The findings have practical policy implications for decision makers in the area of macroeconomic planning, as energy conservation is a feasible policy with no damaging repercussions on economic growth for Iran and Kuwait. However, increased GDP requires enormous energy consumption in Saudi Arabia. So, it seems misleading to recommend the same policy for different oil-exporting countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient safety in primary care is an emerging field of research with a growing evidence base in western countries but little has been explored in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) including the Sultanate of Oman. This study aimed to review the literature on the safety culture and patient safety measures used globally to inform the development of safety culture among health care workers in primary care with a particular focus on the Middle East. Methods: A systematic review of the literature. Searches were undertaken using Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and Scopus from the year 2000 to 2014. Terms defining safety culture were combined with terms identifying patient safety and primary care. Results: The database searches identified 3072 papers that were screened for inclusion in the review. After the screening and verification, data were extracted from 28 papers that described safety culture in primary care. The global distribution of the articles is as follows: the Netherlands (7), the United States (5), Germany (4), the United Kingdom (1), Australia, Canada and Brazil (two for each country), and with one each from Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The characteristics of the included studies were grouped under the following themes: safety culture in primary care, incident reporting, safety climate and adverse events. The most common theme from 2011 onwards was the assessment of safety culture in primary care (13 studies, 46%). The most commonly used safety culture assessment tool is the Hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC) which has been used in developing countries in the Middle East. Conclusions: This systematic review reveals that the most important first step is the assessment of safety culture in primary care which will provide a basic understanding to safety-related perceptions of health care providers. The HSOPSC has been commonly used in Kuwait, Turkey, and Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Moattari et al. (2012) Influenza viral infections among the Iranian Hajj pilgrims returning to Shiraz, Fars province, Iran. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(601), e77-e79 Background Annually over two million Muslims from across the world converge on Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Overcrowding at the Hajj facilitates spread of communicable diseases, especially respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to determine the attack rate of seasonal and pandemic influenza among returning Iranian pilgrims after the 2009 Hajj. Methods Clinical data and throat swabs were collected at Shiraz airport from symptomatic Iranian pilgrims of Fars province who were returning from the Hajj between 15 and 21 December 2009. The specimens were tested at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Influenza Research Center for influenza viruses by cell culture and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTrtPCR) according to standard protocol. Findings Out of 3000 pilgrims from Fars province who attended the Hajj 2009, 275 symptomatic pilgrims were recruited into this study. Pilgrims had fever, cough, muscle ache and sore throat in various combinations. Twenty-five (9·1%) pilgrims had influenza by virus culture and these were as follows: influenza B ( n = 17), influenza A H3N2 ( n = 8) and pandemic H1N1 ( n = 5), whereas 33 (12%) had influenza by RTrtPCR: influenza B ( n = 20), influenza A H3N2 ( n = 8) and pandemic H1N1 ( n = 5). Interpretation Both seasonal and pandemic influenza infections occurred among the Iranian Hajj pilgrims; seasonal viruses were more common than the pandemic viruses even though all pilgrims were vaccinated against seasonal influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]