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Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress levels are considered important indicators for mental health. Khat chewing habit is prevalent among all segments of Jazan population in Saudi Arabia. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among Jazan University students, and information about the correlation between khat use and these disorders is scarce. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their correlation with khat chewing and other risk factors among Jazan University students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 642 students from Jazan University. Multistage sampling was used, with probability proportional to size-sampling technique. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 questionnaire was used to collect the data, which were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0 software. Results: Moderate depression was prevalent among 53.6% of the sample, anxiety was found among 65.7%, while 34.3% of the students suffered from stress. Female gender was strongly associated with higher mean scores for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, with P-values <0.05 for all. Moreover, anxiety symptoms scores were statistically associated with grade point average and caffeine consumption. Khat use was statistically associated with higher mean scores of anxiety among males and a higher mean score of depression and anxiety among females. Conclusion: The results indicate a high rate of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Jazan University students. Khat use was associated with anxiety, and a higher rate of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress was indicated among female students. Therefore, strategy for the prevention and management of depression, anxiety, and stress is highly recommended to minimize the impact of these serious disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Overweight and obesity are excessive fat accumulations linked with many health problems, including heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Multiple studies have demonstrated that beliefs about overweight, obesity and self-efficacy play essential roles in the success of interventions for obesity management., Objectives: This study aimed to identify the perceptions of university students of overweight and obesity using the health belief model (HBM) and to analyse their association with the body mass index (BMI) categories of the students., Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study and a multistage sampling technique were used to ensure the recruitment of students from selected colleges of Jazan University-Saudi Arabia., Setting: Six colleges of Jazan University were randomly selected to ensure equal representation of health sciences, sciences and humanities colleges., Participants: A total of 579 students completed an online survey between January and April 2023., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures were demographic characteristics and HBM constructs. Secondary outcome measures were behavioural intentions relating to obesity management., Results: This study demonstrated that gender and self-reported family history of obesity were significantly correlated with the BMI categories of the students (p <0.001). Students in the underweight category showed the highest mean score for perceived severity (3.62 ±0.08). Perceived self-efficacy in exercise and diet was significantly associated with BMI categories, with adjusted ORs of 2.82 (2.10 to 3.79) and 1.51 (1.09 to 2.09), respectively. Perceived barriers to healthy eating and regular physical activity were significantly related to the behavioural intentions of obesity management. Multivariate logistic regression showed that perceived severity, perceived cues to action, perceived barriers and self-efficacy in dieting and exercise were significant predictors of behavioural intentions for the management of obesity., Conclusion: This study underscores the need for tailored health promotion strategies that consider the perceptions and beliefs of people about the management of obesity., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Dengue poses a considerable public health threat in Saudi Arabia, with escalating outbreaks in Jazan, where seasonal rains create ideal mosquito breeding conditions. Elucidating local epidemiological dynamics is imperative to strengthen evidence-based prevention policies. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal, demographic, and meteorological patterns of dengue in Jazan from 2015-2020., Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized surveillance records for 3427 confirmed dengue cases. Descriptive analyses characterized geographic, seasonal, age, sex, and nationality distributions. Forecasting models project expected epidemics through 2025. Regression analysis identified climate factors associated with monthly case counts., Results: Dengue exhibited shifting seasonal peaks, transitioning into year-round transmission by 2019, indicating endemic establishment. Cases clustered in different high-burden sectors annually, requiring localized vector control. The majority of affected individuals were young male adults, with gender gaps narrowing over time. Saudi nationals had an escalating incidence, but non-citizens showed a higher risk, signaling importation threats. Seasonal outbreaks were associated with temperature, wind speed, and direction., Conclusion: Enhanced surveillance, outbreak forecasting, targeted control activities, and integrated prevention policies grounded in continuous evidence assessment can effectively address endemic dengue transmission in Jazan. This study provides key insights to optimize data-driven decision-making for dengue control in Saudi Arabia., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Vector Borne Diseases.)

Background: Quality of life has become a more important health outcome with advancements in medical therapies and disease management, leading to better lives for people in general, particularly those living with chronic diseases. Diabetes has a direct impact on the physical, psychological, and social aspects of personal health. This study aimed to determine healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL) and its predictors in patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 patients with type 2 diabetes who presented to primary healthcare centers in Samtah Town, Saudi Arabia, from March 2017 to February 2018. The HRQOL of the study participants was determined using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Multi-level linear regression was employed to ascertain the factors associated with HRQOL among patients with type 2 diabetes., Results: Female sex was significantly associated with higher HbA1c, anxiety, depression, and stress scores and a lower HRQL in the physical, psychological, and environmental health subscales than males (P<0.001). All subscales of HRQOL were significantly lower in the > 50 years age group. When compared to those with low levels of education (illiterate, primary, or elementary school), patients with secondary and bachelor's degrees had significantly higher HRQOL in all subscales (P<0.001). In addition, there were significant differences in glycemic control and HRQL with a longer duration of diabetes, the presence of one or more diabetes complications, and the presence of comorbid hypertension (P<0.001). However, no significant differences in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) index were observed with a longer duration of diabetes and the presence of comorbid hypertension. Patients with diabetes on combined therapy and healthy diet and exercise showed significantly higher HRQOL on physical functioning (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with impaired health-related quality of life and mental health among study participants. Females appeared to have worse quality of life and mental health than males. Age, duration of diabetes, comorbid hypertension, diabetes complications, and level of education were significantly associated with lower HRQOL and mental health scores. Healthy diet and exercise, when combined with hypoglycemic and insulin therapy, were found to improve HRQOL and mental health among patients with diabetes. Scales based on a broad definition of health, such as the WHOQOL-BREF, are appropriate for use in primary care settings and can enhance patient management and care., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)