Preventive practices and non healthy behaviors among female university employees in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Objective : To assess the prevalence of non healthy behaviors and the practice <؛f health preventive measures among feniale university employees in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Subjects and methods: Through a multi-stage stratified sample, a total of 299 female teaching staff and employees w ere interviewed by trained female medical students using a comprehensive questionnaire to determine non healthy behaviors and preventive measures practiced.

Results : Educational level of this group was high and their jobs were mostly in teaching and administration.

Only one fourth of them practiced any form of physical exercise weekly and over half of them were either obese 0آ severely obese.

Obesity was seen more among mothers and older age groups and physical exercise was practiced more by non Saudis.

Cigarette and Shisha smoking were reported by 10 % and 11 % of the group, respectively.

Consumption of fatty foods was prevalent in more than halfof university employees, while seat belt use for 20 % of the time or more was very low (21.1 %).

Low rates of pap smear testing and mammography were reported and breast self examination (BSE) practice is still unpopular among Saudi females.

BSE was highly associated with the performance of mammography and medical breast examination, while mammograms were carried out more in employees having relatives with breast cancer.

Conclusion and recommendation : Results from this study supports the general picture of obesity, low physical activity and high fat intake among Saudis and emphasizes the need for promoting physical fitness among them.

Low rates of preventive screening practices such as mammography and pap smear testing were reported and alarming rates of smoking among them were also documented.

This all emphasises the necessity for public educational efforts to promote healthy dietary habits and lifestyle and implement preventive screening tests.