The impact of preventive measures on acute illnesses among pilgrims during Hajj season
Authors:
Yousef M. Alsofayan
, Fahad A. Alamri
, Faten A. Alradini
, Nashwa M. Radwan
, Anas A. Khan
, Ahmed Alahmari
, Sari I. Asiri
, Nagla E. Mahmoud
, Mustafa S. Hassanein
, Nouf A. Aleisaa
, Mohammad A. Alzahrani
, Khaled I. Alabdulkareem
Abstract
Background: Hajj is an annual religious ritual that takes place for a specific period in Makkah city. Every year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts more than two million pilgrims from more than 160 countries around the world for Hajj. It is crucial to minimize illnesses among pilgrims. This study aimed to assess the impact of preventive measures on acute illnesses among pilgrims. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted during the Hajj season from August to September 2019. A random sample was extracted from electronic evaluation forms filled by professional health care workers at two airports in Saudi Arabia including pilgrims before their departure and after the end of hajj season. Results: The study included 2,479 pilgrims. The most frequently associated comorbidity was Diabetes Mellitus in 49.54%. Upper respiratory tract infection was found in 39.17% and was the most common illness reported. Comorbidities had a crude odds ratio (OR) of 2.67 with a p-value of 0.000 and an adjusted OR of 2.80 with p-value of 0.000. The pre-Hajj examination had an OR of 0.37 with a p-value 0.000 that remained significant even after adjusting age and gender. Hajj health education had a crude OR of 0.17 with a significant p-value of 0.000 and adjusted OR 0.39 with p-value 0.003. Conclusion: Based on the current observation, strict compliance with standard pre-Hajj clinical examination, health education, and the use of umbrella during Hajj seasons is recommended to reduce the impact of acute illness among pilgrims.Keywords: Hajj, preventive measures, health education, chronic diseases, mass gatherings
Pubmed Style
Yousef M. Alsofayan, Fahad A. Alamri, Faten A. Alradini, Nashwa M. Radwan, Anas A. Khan, Ahmed Alahmari, Sari I. Asiri, Nagla E. Mahmoud, Mustafa S. Hassanein, Nouf A. Aleisaa, Mohammad A. Alzahrani, Khaled I. Alabdulkareem. The impact of preventive measures on acute illnesses among pilgrims during Hajj season. SJE Med. 2021; 23 (August 2021): 218-224. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1626117547
Publication History
Received: July 12, 2021
Accepted: July 21, 2021
Published: August 23, 2021
Authors
Fahad A. Alamri
Global Center for Mass gatherings Medicine, Public Health Agency, Saudi Arabia
Faten A. Alradini
Clinical sciences department, college of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
Nashwa M. Radwan
Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
Anas A. Khan
Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,
Sari I. Asiri
General Directorate for Hajj and Umrah, Assisting Public Health, Makkah Almukaramh Health General Directorate for Public health, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,
Nagla E. Mahmoud
Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,
Mustafa S. Hassanein
Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Nouf A. Aleisaa
Health Education Department, Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,
Mohammad A. Alzahrani
Health Education Department, Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,
Khaled I. Alabdulkareem
Family Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Al-Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University IMSIU, Saudi Arabia. Assistant Deputy Minister for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia,