Inequalities in Knowledge About COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: As the world is still being ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first line of prevention lies in understanding the causative and preventive factors of the disease. However, given varied socioeconomic circumstances, there may be some inequality in the level of proper knowledge of COVID-19. Despite a proliferation of studies on COVID-19, the extent and prevalence of inequalities in knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia are not known. Most related studies have only focused on understanding the determinants of COVID-19 knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge regarding COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Data were extracted from an online cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire conducted on the knowledge about COVID-19 from 3,388 participants. Frequencies and graphs were used to identify the level and distribution of inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Concentration curves and concentration indices were further used to assess and quantify the income- and education-related inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Results: The level of COVID-19 knowledge was high among the surveyed sample, although the extent of knowledge varied. The findings further suggest the existence of socioeconomic inequality in obtaining proper knowledge about COVID-19, indicating that inequality in comprehensive knowledge is disproportionately concentrated among the wealthy (concentration index = 0.016; P < 0.001) and highly educated individuals (concentration index = 0.003; P = 0.029) in Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: There is inequality in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the more socioeconomically privileged population of Saudi Arabia. Given that COVID-19 cases ebb and flow in different waves, it is important that proper policies be put in place that will help in improving knowledge among the lower income and less educated individuals, leading to behavior that can help reduce transmission.

Alsharqi OZ ，Qattan AMN ，Alshareef N ，Chirwa GC ，Al-Hanawi MK ... -  《Frontiers in Public Health》

Economic Analysis of Inequality in Preventive Health Check-Ups Uptake in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Undertaking preventive health check-ups has proven to be an important strategy in the fight against several diseases. However, various socioeconomic circumstances may hinder participating in such an important health exercise for many people. With the growth in the burden of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia, it is thus essential that people take an active role in undertaking preventive health check-ups. However, the extent to which this behavior is determined by inequalities in socioeconomic circumstances remains not well-documented. The aim of this study was to examine the socioeconomic inequalities in undertaking preventive health check-ups in Saudi Arabia, using a national survey with a sample of 11,528 respondents. Methods: Data from the Saudi Family Health Survey conducted in 2018 by the General Authority for Statistics were used for the analysis of this study. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the socioeconomic factors associated with undertaking preventive health check-ups. Concentration indices were calculated, and associated concentration curves were used to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in preventive health check-ups uptake. Moreover, decomposition analysis was performed to examine the extent to which the socioeconomic variables affect uptake of preventive health check-ups. Results: The results reveal that being older adults, more educated, insured, and married increase the probability of undertaking preventive health check-ups. Regarding socioeconomic inequalities, preventive health check-ups uptake was concentrated among the wealthier (concentration index: 0.0831; P < 0.001). However, some differences were observed in terms of socioeconomic inequality across the regions. Decomposition of the Erreygers index supported the analysis of the determinants and suggested that income, and education were the primary drivers of the associated inequality. Conclusions: These results suggest that the government of Saudi Arabia should develop intervention programs and strategies that promote the uptake of health check-ups among the vulnerable group to reduce inequalities. Of particular importance is the need for more health-related education among the poor and those with lower education in order to raise their awareness on the benefits and advantages of conducting health examinations.

Al-Hanawi MK ，Chirwa GC 《Frontiers in Public Health》

Socioeconomic determinants and inequalities in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming a challenge worldwide, causing high mortality and morbidity. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of NCDs globally and the highest in the Arabian Gulf region. Epidemiological data indicate that NCDs are responsible for 70 % of all deaths in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to examine the socioeconomic determinants and inequalities in the prevalence of NCDs in Saudi Arabia. Data from the Saudi Family Health Survey conducted in 2018 by the General Authority for Statistics were used for this study. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the socioeconomic factors associated with the prevalence of NCDs. Moreover, the concentration curve and concentration indices were used to assess inequalities in the prevalence of NCDs. Among the 11,527 respondents, the prevalence of NCDs was 32.15 %. The prevalence of NCDs was higher among women and among elderly respondents aged ≥ 60 years. With respect to the determinants of the prevalence of NCDs, the logistic regression results showed that the likelihood of reporting NCDs was lower among people with a higher education (OR: 0.599, 95 % CI: 0.497-0.723, p < 0.01) compared with that of people with an education below the primary school level. Other factors significantly associated with the prevalence of NCDs were age, marital status, nationality, and region of residence. The inequality analysis showed that at the national level, the prevalence of NCDs was concentrated among less educated people (concentration index = - 0.338, p < 0.01), but with significant regional variations. Gender disaggregation showed that both income-based and education-based concentration indices were significantly negative among women, indicating that the prevalence of NCDs is concentrated among women with a lower income level and with less education. The findings of this study are important for policymakers to combat both the increasing prevalence of and socio-economic inequalities in NCDs. The government should develop targeted intervention strategies to control NCDs and achieve health equality considering socio-economic status. Future policies should target women and the lower educated population in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hanawi MK 《International Journal for Equity in Health》

Socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes in the Middle East, is a major public health concern of the 21st century. However, there is a paucity of literature to understand and measure socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in this region, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study investigated socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in the KSA using data from the Saudi Arabia Health Interview Survey. Concentration curve, concentration index, and multivariate logistic regression were used to measure and examine income- and education-related inequalities in diabetes prevalence. The results showed significant socio-economic inequalities in the prevalence of diabetes through analysing a nationally representative sample of the KSA population. Diabetes prevalence was concentrated among the poor and among people with less education. In addition, education-related inequality was higher than income-related inequality. The findings of this study are important for policymakers to combat both the increasing prevalence of and socio-economic inequalities in diabetes. The government should promote health education programmes and increase the level of public awareness of diabetes management, especially among the lower educated population in the KSA.

Al-Hanawi MK ，Chirwa GC ，Pulok MH 《-》

Knowledge and practice of personal protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

Bazaid AS ，Aldarhami A ，Binsaleh NK ，Sherwani S ，Althomali OW ... -  《-》