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Introduction The study aimed to assess knowledge and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS among adults in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, a region with a rising HIV burden and documented gaps in public awareness. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2024 using anonymous online and paper-based questionnaires targeting residents aged 18–80 years in the Eastern Province. Convenience sampling recruited participants from community centers, public spaces, and social media platforms. The 21-item questionnaire assessed demographics and knowledge of HIV transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, with p ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 984 participants were included, predominantly female (61.0%) and Saudi nationals (85.4%), with 64.7% having postsecondary education. Most recognized sexual transmission (92.7%), availability of confidential diagnostic methods (94.2%), and that HIV can be controlled with treatment (84.6%). Misconceptions persisted, with 25.7% believing HIV is transmitted through casual contact and 27.7% through sharing public restrooms, and several perceptions showed significant associations with age, gender, education, nationality, marital status, and healthcare work status. Discussion Findings show high overall awareness but important misconceptions that may perpetuate stigma and hinder prevention, particularly among younger, less educated, and non-healthcare groups. Conclusion Targeted, culturally sensitive educational interventions, with a focus on younger and less educated populations and the active involvement of healthcare professionals as key educators, are needed to strengthen HIV prevention efforts and support national public health goals.
Health behaviors are driven by a complex interplay of individual and structural factors. While health literacy and sense of coherence are widely studied as psychosocial enablers of healthy lifestyles, evidence comparing their impact against broader social determinants of health remains limited. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among primary care patients across six autonomous communities in Spain (N = 980). This study aimed to evaluate the association of the overall lifestyle index and its dimensions with health literacy and sense of coherence while determining the relative contribution of sociodemographic and contextual factors through multivariable analysis. Dimension-specific analyses showed that better self-perceived health and spending more than two hours per week in natural environments were consistently associated with healthier diet, higher physical activity and better emotional wellbeing. Similar patterns were observed for the overall lifestyle index. In the fully adjusted model, better self-perceived health (B = 4.24; p < 0.001), female sex (B = 3.97; p < 0.001), spending more than two hours per week in natural environments (B = 3.83; p < 0.001), being retired or a pensioner (B = 3.48; p < 0.001), and higher educational attainment (B = 1.45; p < 0.001) were associated with a higher overall lifestyle index, whereas being self-employed was associated with a lower overall lifestyle index (B = − 4.90; p = 0.007). Neither health literacy nor sense of coherence remained independently associated with the overall lifestyle index after adjustment for sociodemographic and contextual factors. Lifestyle choices in this primary care population are predominantly shaped by contextual and sociodemographic factors rather than individual cognitive or psychosocial traits. These findings suggest that, in the presence of structural and sociodemographic differences, the additional independent contribution of health literacy and sense of coherence to lifestyle variance may be limited. The Ponte a 100 questionnaire provides a practical approach for identifying modifiable lifestyle behaviours in Primary Care, although its overall lifestyle index should be interpreted as a pragmatic summary measure rather than as a reflective measure of a single latent construct.
Objectives:This study explored midwives' intentions to leave their position or the profession, actual turnover, and salary satisfaction over a three-year period. It also examined differences between primary and hospital care and identified predictors of turnover. Methods:A longitudinal survey was conducted with 478 midwives in 2020 and 2023. Measures included intention to leave, salary satisfaction, and actual turnover. Predictors were analysed using linear and logistic regression models. Results:By 2023, 39% of midwives expressed an intention to leave the profession. Intention to leave their current position decreased slightly over time, while salary satisfaction increased. Significant predictors of intention to leave included baseline intention (β = -0.698, p < .001), salary satisfaction (β = -0.128, p < .001), and professional experience (β = -0.113, p < .001). Turnover was higher in primary care (OR = 2.83, p < .001). Salary satisfaction was also linked to actual turnover. Care setting did not predict intention to leave. Conclusion:Efforts to improve working conditions and ensure fair compensation are key to retaining midwives and maintaining quality care for mothers and newborns.
Objectives:While xerostomia (subjective dry mouth) is frequently studied in elderly populations, this study focuses on adults aged 18-82 years to explore prevalence across a broader age spectrum, including younger adults who may experience xerostomia due to medications or systemic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of xerostomia in patients visiting general dental care, and to assess whether age, sex, comorbidities, and medications are associated with the condition. Methods:This cross-sectional study included adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) visiting two general dental clinics in Region Västra Götaland in Sweden. Patients agreeing to participate were asked, "Have you experienced dry mouth in the last six months?". Participants replying "Yes" filled in the 11-item questionnaire Xerostomia Inventory to determine variability and severity of symptoms. Participants reporting no experience of dry mouth the last six months were included in the non-xerostomia group. Results:Out of 344 participants, the prevalence of xerostomia was 34.6% (n = 119). Self-reported use of ≥1 medication was the strongest predictor (OR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.42-4.29, p = 0.001) of xerostomia. Xerostomia was reported by 45.6% of participants with at least one disease compared with 31.2% of those without reported disease. Age, and biological sex, were not significant predictors. Conclusion and clinical relevance:The prevalence of xerostomia was high among patients seeking general dental care. Since early diagnosis and preventive dental care are crucial for managing the condition, awareness of the association between medications and xerostomia could benefit dental and health care professionals, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
