Qatar Journal of Public Health - Volume 2025, Issue 1

Background: Physicians have the potential to significantly impact their patients’ health habits through effective lifestyle counseling. To influence patient behavior, physicians themselves need to practice healthy habits. The aim of this article was to investigate dietary patterns among primary healthcare practitioners (PHPs) in Qatar and their impact on related counseling practices with patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among PHPs working at the primary healthcare centers in Qatar in 2020–2021 using a self-administered questionnaire adapted mainly from the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Stepwise survey. Institutional ethical approval was obtained before the start of the study.

Results: Of 511 PHPs, a total of 306 participated in the survey. The majority were 41–50 years old (51.4%), males (58.1%), and non-Arabs (55.8%). Approximately three-quarters (75.1%) of PHPs did not meet the WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake. Of the patients, 58.2% were counseled on a healthy diet and weight management. Using logistic regression, we found that gender is the only independent predictor of meeting the WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake, with females more likely to meet the recommendations than males (adjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.35–6.27, p = 0.007). Linear regression analysis showed that PHPs’ consumption of fast food and sweets on one day or less per week was significantly associated with an approximately 20% increase in the percentage of their patients counseled on diet (p = 0.012). PHPs found that lack of time and language barriers extremely limited their counseling practices.

Conclusion: The majority of primary healthcare providers do not adhere to the WHO guidelines on fruit and vegetable consumption. Physicians’ lifestyle behaviors can have a significant impact on their patient counseling practices. Implementing PHP-focused lifestyle interventions and providing behavioral support can help align physicians’ personal dietary habits with counseling practices, ultimately improving patient care outcomes.

Introduction: Vitamin D insufficiency is on the increase globally, becoming a significant public health concern even in nations with abundant access to sunshine and food. Although Oman enjoys extended periods of sunshine, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has lately increased. The study aims to assess the levels of vitamin D in the adult Omani citizen population who sought primary healthcare in Oman.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in Muscat, Oman, between January and December 2015, involving 250 primary health care users aged 18 years or older who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test result available. Deficit, insufficiency, and sufficiency of vitamin D were determined by their respective 25(OH)D levels: less than 50 nmol/L, between 50 and 74 nmol/L, and more than 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL), respectively. Data were reported as numbers, percentages, and mean ± standard deviation. We applied a logistic regression model to the variables.

Results: The study included 250 patients. Of the total, 95% were female (n = 238), whereas male patients comprised just 12 (5%). In terms of vitamin D levels, 227 patients were deficient (91%), 21 (8%) patients were insufficient, and only 2 (1%) patients had normal vitamin D levels. The main reasons for testing vitamin D levels were muscle ache: 71 patients (28%); screening: 67 patients (27%); bone ache: 53 patients (21%); and joint pain: 35 patients (14%). The majority of patients were tested in the following months: January (15%), February (13%), and March (14%). The research demonstrated a correlation between vitamin D levels and solar exposure, with the patients receiving sun exposure on a weekly basis (p = 0.000034).

Conclusions: The most common clinical presentations of vitamin D deficiency were bone pain and muscle pain, and there was substantial correlation between vitamin D levels and sun exposure groups. Low vitamin D levels are common among seemingly healthy Omani females residing in Muscat. Public awareness, supplementation, and fortification of food with vitamin D are warranted.

Infertility affects 10–16% of Sudan’s population and is a major public health concern exacerbated by the ongoing war, which has severely disrupted access to essential healthcare services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). Even before the conflict, Sudan’s IVF landscape faced significant challenges, including socioeconomic constraints, limited investment in healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of trained specialists, and high treatment costs. Cultural and religious factors significantly reduced demand for IVF services, while geographical disparities in fertility center distribution created inequitable access. The war has intensified these pre-existing barriers, displacing populations, diverting resources from healthcare, and driving medical professionals away. The destruction of healthcare infrastructure and the psychological toll of war have further reduced access to IVF, leaving infertile couples with few options. Despite these challenges, international aid, public awareness campaigns, and innovative solutions such as mobile clinics, telehealth services, and financial assistance programs provide hope for recovery. To rebuild Sudan’s reproductive healthcare system, it is crucial to prioritize infrastructure reconstruction, enhance specialist training, and implement policies that ensure equitable access to fertility treatments. Addressing these challenges through sustained investment and targeted interventions is essential to restoring reproductive healthcare services and enabling Sudanese couples to fulfill their dreams of parenthood.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global health, with millions of confirmed cases and deaths. Vaccination is crucial in curbing the spread of the virus and mitigating severe outcomes. However, the swift development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines have raised concerns about potential adverse events, underscoring the need for comprehensive surveillance and analysis of vaccine safety.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and types of adverse events reported following the administration of different COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Pfizer Pediatric) across various doses. The objective was to delineate patterns in both local and systemic symptoms, including severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, to enhance understanding of the safety profiles of these vaccines.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Electronic Health Records from Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation, focusing on individuals aged 6 months and older. Adverse event data were gathered using the “COVID-19 Post Vaccine Assessment Form,” which captures both local and systemic symptoms. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0, with frequencies and percentages summarized, Chi-square tests applied to assess associations between side effects and vaccine doses, and a p-value < 0.05 (two-tailed) considered statistically significant.

Results: The study included 121,700 patients, of whom 28,715 (23.6%) reported at least one adverse event following vaccination. Moderna exhibited the highest prevalence of any symptoms after the second dose (34.3%), while AstraZeneca demonstrated a significant increase in symptoms after the third dose (96.9%). Injection site pain was most prevalent with AstraZeneca’s third dose (57.1%), and anaphylaxis was most commonly reported with Pfizer Pediatric’s first dose (0.9%). The Pfizer Pediatric vaccine had the lowest rates of symptoms after the third dose (0.5%). Systemic symptoms, including fever and fatigue, were frequently reported across all vaccines.

Conclusion: This study reveals significant variability in adverse event profiles among different COVID-19 vaccines and doses. Moderna and AstraZeneca showed higher rates of both local and systemic symptoms, with AstraZeneca’s third dose exhibiting the highest overall symptom prevalence. Pfizer Pediatric had lower adverse event rates, though anaphylaxis and systemic symptoms like fever were more notable after the first dose. These findings emphasize the importance of ongoing post-vaccination monitoring to optimize vaccine administration and ensure patient safety.

Background:Shigella flexneri, a leading cause of bacillary dysentery, induces severe gastrointestinal inflammation, disrupting gut homeostasis. This study evaluates the potential of Lactobacillus casei as probiotics to enhance immune responses in Wistar albino rats against Shigella flexneri infection.

Methodology: Twenty healthy Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control (group A), group B (Shigella flexneri-infected), group C (Lactobacillus casei-treated), group D (pre-treated with Lactobacillus casei before infected with Shigella flexneri), and group E (infected with Shigella flexneri and treated with ciprofloxacin). Temperature, body weight, and stool samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days. At the end of the experiment (21 days), blood samples and organs (liver and colon) were examined microbiologically and pathologically following standard methods.

Results: The temperature at 0 days was observed to be 36°C in all the groups, by day 21, there was an increase in temperature in all the groups except the control group. There was no statistical difference in temperature among the groups (p > 0.05). The weight of the experimental animals on day 0 ranged from 180 to 200 g. It was observed that on day 7, there was a decrease in the body weight of the Wistar albino rats in group B (173 g), group D (173.3 g), and group E (159 g), but there was a weight gain of 224.3 g in group C at the end of 21 days (p > 0.05). There was statistical significance (p = 0.03) among all the groups in terms of the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) parameter, even though, group E had the lowest MCV of 58.7 ± 8.00 fL. Also, there was a significant difference in white blood cells (WBCs) and lymphocytes among all groups (p < 0.05). The mean of heterotrophic bacteria count of Wistar albino rats on day 21 showed that group A had the least mean bacteria count of 11.7 × 10⁷ cfm/mL, and the highest occurrence was in group E (16.6 × 10⁷ cfm/mL). The mean heterotrophic bacteria load ranged between 47 × 10³ – 78.6 × 10³ cfu/g and 39 × 10³ – 82 × 10³ cfu/g for the colon and liver respectively.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that Lactobacillus casei not only demonstrates antagonistic properties against pathogenic bacteria but also positively affects hematological parameters that reflect an enhanced immune response. I recommend that further research be conducted to explore the long-term effects of Lactobacillus casei supplementation on immune function and gut microbiota.