Background: To prevent infectious diseases and deaths of children, vaccinations play a crucial role in public health strategies in Kuwait. However, it remained uncertain to demonstrate the potential long-term health o...Background: To prevent infectious diseases and deaths of children, vaccinations play a crucial role in public health strategies in Kuwait. However, it remained uncertain to demonstrate the potential long-term health outcomes of vaccination, including neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term health outcomes of vaccination among Kuwait children from birth to thirteen years old. Objectives: This study included the significant objectives: (1) to compare long-term health effects, including chronic and acute conditions for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and vaccinated children, and (2) to evaluate the association of vaccination with the neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism, and the preventable illnesses. Methods: This prospective study involved a sample of 976 children from Kuwait based on mothers’ reporting. Data collection about the vaccination status of children and various health outcomes relevant to chronic and acute illnesses was performed based on structured questionnaires through an online survey. However, participants were classified into unvaccinated (n = 40), partially vaccinated (n = 222), and fully vaccinated (n = 714). Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, Odds Ratios (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and logistic regression, were performed using SAS (Version 9.4) to determine the associations between vaccination status and health outcomes among children. Results: The study disclosed that vaccinated children showed an increased diagnosis of chronic (allergic rhinitis, allergies, autism spectrum, eczema, neuro-developmental disorders, learning disability, ADHD, and any chronic condition) and acute (whooping cough, pneumonia, rubella, hepatitis A or B, measles, mumps, meningitis, influenza, rotavirus, cancer, chronic fatigue, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, conduct disorder, diabetes type 1 or 2, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, seizures, hearing loss, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and depression) illnesses than unvaccinated children. The fully vaccinated children showed an increased prevalence of influenza diagnosis, while partially vaccinated children were more likely to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis than unvaccinated children. In contrast, unvaccinated were more likely to have been diagnosed with chickenpox and encephalopathy than fully and partially vaccinated. Males with chronic and acute conditions had a lower incidence of allergies and pneumonia, respectively, whereas females had a reduced prevalence of acute illnesses, such as whooping cough, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis A or B among vaccinated (n = 936;combination of partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated) children. Regarding medication use and health service applications, vaccinated children were more likely to use medications for fever, antibiotics, and allergies. In addition, they showed an increased rate of sick visits and emergency visits in the past twelve months. On the other hand, factors like age (2 - 5 years, 6 - 9 years, and 10 - 13 years), birth type (cesarian), and mother suffering during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) were significantly associated with NDD (learning disability, autism spectrum, and attention deficient hyperactivity disorder) in the adjusted analysis. In the interaction model of age and birth type, age (6 - 9 years;OR 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 25.3) and mother suffering (gestational diabetes;OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2) during pregnancy were associated with NDD. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there are some cases where the infection rate is higher among the vaccinated compared to unvaccinated children, or there are no significant differences between the two groups in Kuwait. Upon controlling the factors in the interaction model, the age of 6 to 9 years and gestational diabetic mothers during pregnancy were associated with the synergistic increment of odds with NDD. These data findings are recommended to verify a larger and diverse group of samples to optimize the vaccination on health outcomes in Kuwait children.展开更多
Mt. Qomolangma (also known as Mt. Everest), the world's highest mountain, is situated over the world＇s highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau. Because of its height and because of its distance from industrialized a...Mt. Qomolangma (also known as Mt. Everest), the world's highest mountain, is situated over the world＇s highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau. Because of its height and because of its distance from industrialized areas, the environmental state of the Mt. Qonlolangma region can normally be considered 'undisturbed'. It is interesting to investigate how this “undisturbed” state has been changing with time and whether it has been influenced by large environmentally disruptive events such as the Kuwait oil fires of 1990 and 1991 (Small, 1991). In order to do this, river water samples were collected from the Rongpu River at Rongpu Temple Station in the summers of 1992 and 1993,as was done in 1975, and aerosol samples were collected in the summer of 1992 at the same station as was done in 1980. River water samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Aerosol samples were analyzed using proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) at the University of Fudan in Shanghai. The results show that the concentrations of chemical species in the river water at Rongpu Temple Station were much higher in the summer of 1992 than they were in 1975 and 1993, and the concentrations of atmospheric chemical species were much higher in 1992 than they were in 1980. The environment of the north slope of Mt.Qomolangma was therefore heavily polluted before and / or during the summer of 1992, possibly due to the Kuwait oil fires in 1990 and 1991.展开更多
During sampling for spawning stock of the silver pomfret,Pampus argenteus in Kuwait waters,a few seriously deformed individuals were captured.These individuals had been attacked and wounded,but had healed and survived...During sampling for spawning stock of the silver pomfret,Pampus argenteus in Kuwait waters,a few seriously deformed individuals were captured.These individuals had been attacked and wounded,but had healed and survived.The fish body deformities are believed to be caused by predation attempts on silver pomfret by predators such as sharks,groupers,and croakers.展开更多
The State of Kuwait Ministry of Education (MoE) has clearly defined land use standards for the location of public schools, and an inventory of reserved lands for future facilities. Unless, there is a geographical effi...The State of Kuwait Ministry of Education (MoE) has clearly defined land use standards for the location of public schools, and an inventory of reserved lands for future facilities. Unless, there is a geographical efficient tool to manage and plan the education system in a rapidly developing country such as Kuwait there will be huge deficit in such services. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to fill in this gap and effectively evaluate and analyze their facilities and unoccupied lands to ensure they continue to meet the population and future needs of Kuwaiti students. This paper utilized the GIS to inventory, map, and analyze MoE facilities and unoccupied land reservations with a goal of improved planning and decision making. Unfortunately, the initial spatial analysis of the data showed huge percent of districts that have no schools failing to meet the minimum standard of the MoE including kindergartens, primary schools, intermediate schools for girls, intermediate schools for boys, secondary schools for girls and secondary schools for boys at 72%, 71%, 48%, 43%, 54%, and 55% respectively. Such critical results will enable the decision makers to prioritize the immediate action of relocation the schools or widen the services and accessibility. Moreover, the analysis of the data showed a critical and immediate need to reserve land for five districts where they are heavily populated and lacked reserved land. However, based on long term land use plans, there is an urgent need to relocate some land and reserve others to meet the future urbanization plans and population growth.展开更多
Street-level bureaucrats are described as public service workers who interact directly with citizens in the course of their work and who have substantial discretion in the execution of their work. This article is a re...Street-level bureaucrats are described as public service workers who interact directly with citizens in the course of their work and who have substantial discretion in the execution of their work. This article is a reflection of the primary author’s doctoral research experience, which investigated the role of nurses in caring for long-term diabetes patients in two selected hospitals in Kuwait. Nurses working in diabetes care in Kuwait were reported to operate under difficult conditions and utilized the tool of discretion to provide patient care, hence were exemplary street-level bureaucrats.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leadership on job creativity in the public institutions of the state of Kuwait. Population of the study consisted of some public bodies, namely： General Inve...The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leadership on job creativity in the public institutions of the state of Kuwait. Population of the study consisted of some public bodies, namely： General Investment Corporation, Kuwait Development Fund, Ministry of Planning, and Civil Service Department. There are 540 questionnaires distributed, 15 recovered, and 525 of the distributed questionnaires good for statistical analysis. Analysis of the data depended on descriptive statistical analysis, multi and simple regression. Following the hypotheses test by using the F-test, T-test, R2 coefficient and the One-Way variance analysis （ANOVA） test, the study reached the following results： There is a relation between leadership patterns and job creativity in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. The relation is considered of medium strength, because r = 56.4% and this result matched the results of the previous studies that dealt with the same subject, which indicated that the leadership patterns affect the creative behavior in the organizations at different levels according to the prevalent pattern type. This enhances the logicality of the result, which means that the leadership patterns play a vital role in job creativity in various institutions. Results of the study showed that the democratic pattern is the most prevalent leadership pattern among managers, followed by the unrestrained pattern and finally the authoritarian pattern. Analysis results revealed that there is a weak relation between the authoritarian pattern and the job creativity in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. The weakness of relation between the two variables can be interpreted in view of the fact that the increase of authoritarianism in leadership might give adverse results contrary to the expected and consequently, it is logical that the relation would be weak between the authoritative management approach and job creativity. There is a concern in providing work environment that encourages change in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. Managers remarkably support the employees＇ efforts in performing the job. The study was concluded by the following recommendations： The effect of the leadership patterns on creative behavior was reached and therefore, the author recommended that it is necessary to choose well-qualified leadership that contributes to achieving excellence in the institutions operating in different sectors; to hold workshops, committees, seminars, and conferences in order to enhance confidence between management and employees; to concentrate on enhancing the democratic administrative pattern in the institutions due to its immense influence on the creative behavior of employees.展开更多
Magnetic plant biomonitoring has been proven to be an effective tool in the assessment of air quality. Kuwait presents a unique environment due to its dry desert climatic conditions and prevailing dry deposition patte...Magnetic plant biomonitoring has been proven to be an effective tool in the assessment of air quality. Kuwait presents a unique environment due to its dry desert climatic conditions and prevailing dry deposition patterns that may affect accumulation rates of magnetic mineral particles. This study evaluated two widely distributed ornamental species, buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) and palm (Phoenix dactylifera) for their effectiveness as biomagnetic monitors over three different land use classes (urban, suburban and industrial land classes). The differences between land use classes were classified by their proximity to major pollution sources as well as population density. Leaf sampling was conducted over various heights and distances from the nearest road. Total leaf saturated isothermal magnetization (SIRM), hard isothermal magnetization (HIRM), hard isothermal magnetization percentage (HIRM%) and s-ratio have been measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze leaf surface micromorphology. It was determined that NRM values are similar for all land use classes and species, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 μA. Palm leaf overall magnetic concentration was identified to be higher at the industrial land use class than at the urban land use class, indicating high coercivity minerals to magnetically dominate the land use classes. Additionally, total leaf SIRM was determined to be higher at short distances of 0 - 5 meters from the vicinity of the road. The surface rugosity of palm has deep ridges and furrows with ununiform wax projections across the leaf surface, while buttonwood has a smooth wax film with low relief. Differences in leaf micromorphology in addition to plant physiology, justify species magnetic parametric variances. Palm leaf had an average SIRM value that is 120% higher than buttonwood. It has been highlighted that through the application of the magnetic parameter results to spatial distribution maps that there is an association between particulate matter (PM) and the locality of main roads and local services that may experience higher intensities of traffic.展开更多
Fish traps were investigated to understand the effects of season, bait type, trap size, and trap soak time on catch rates, catch composition, and trap loss rates from March 2004 to September 2005, to improve the perfo...Fish traps were investigated to understand the effects of season, bait type, trap size, and trap soak time on catch rates, catch composition, and trap loss rates from March 2004 to September 2005, to improve the performance and management of Kuwait＇s gargoor （cage style fish trap） fishery, which used to be the nation＇s most important one in terms of value and landings volume. Catch rates were the highest in April/May （5 8 kg/trap haul） and again in December （7 kg/trap haul）. Bait type and trap size also affected catch rates and species composition. Of the seven baits tested, the best catch rates, 〉5 kg/trap haul, occurred with cuttlefish （Sepia pharaonis）, but wolf-herring （Chiroeentrus dorab） and mullet （Liza klunzingeri） also produced good results （4-5 kg/trap haul）. Within the five tested sizes, the two largest-sized traps captured more fish and larger size fish. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） showed significant differences of catch rate among traps with different baits as well as among traps of different sizes. Duncan test further revealed these differences between two specific baits and sizes. Cluster Analysis of species composition showed more differences among different baits than among different trap sizes. Longer soak times did not result in larger catch rates, but increased trap loss. About 10-day soak time resulted in trap loss 7%, while 40-day soak time could result in a loss of around 20%. Consequently, it is recommended that the gargoor be checked every 10 or fewer days. The average overall catch rate during the study period was lower than that of 1980s （4.5 vs. 5.8 kg/trap haul）, indicating a possible decline offish abundance in Kuwait＇s waters. It is recommended that the number of gargoor fishing boats and gargoors from each boat should be limited to allow stock rehabilitation.展开更多
The hepatitis C virus(HCV)is estimated to affect 71 million people worldwide.In 2016,the World Health Organization adopted the first global health sector strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat...The hepatitis C virus(HCV)is estimated to affect 71 million people worldwide.In 2016,the World Health Organization adopted the first global health sector strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.In December 2018,the European Association for the Study of the Liver,International Liver Foundation convened an expert panel to address the elimination of HCV in Kuwait.Several steps have already been taken to eliminate HCV in Kuwait,including free HCV treatment for Kuwait’s citizens,high blood safety standards,and the implementation of screening and awareness programs.The expert panel made several recommendations aimed at accelerating the elimination of HCV in Kuwait:The development of a national strategy and action plan to guide all HCV elimination activities;the formation of a coordination mechanism to support collaboration between hepatitis working committees;the prioritization of microelimination at primary,secondary or tertiary facilities,in prisons and rehabilitation centers;and ensuring the involvement of multiple stakeholders–including relevant civil society groups–in all activities.Enhanced screening and linkage to care should be prioritized in Kuwait,with the expansion of the prescriber base to primary healthcare providers and nurse practitioners to be considered.Raising awareness and educating people about HCV infection also remain essential to achieve the goal of HCV elimination.Lastly,a national HCV registry should be developed to help monitor the implementation of viral hepatitis plans and progress towards achieving national and international targets.展开更多
Objectives: To measure the level of job satisfaction among primary health care physicians Ministry of Health (MOH) Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) physicians, to evaluate the physicians’ mental health, and to assess ...Objectives: To measure the level of job satisfaction among primary health care physicians Ministry of Health (MOH) Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) physicians, to evaluate the physicians’ mental health, and to assess their associated factors. Study Setting: Kuwait Ministry of Health, Primary Care Centers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Data Collection: The study was conducted from July to September, 2017. Of 746 questionnaires distributed to all PHC physicians in the MOH, 417 questionnaires were completed. Information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, work and health-related factors, job satisfaction (using the Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction scale), and mental health (using General Health Questionnaire). Principal Findings: Of participants, 40.8% were male, and 24.9% were Kuwaitis. Median overall job satisfaction was 71.4%. There were significant differences in overall job satisfaction with the physician rank (p = 0.008) and governorate (p = 0.05). The GPs were moderately satisfied with work surroundings;work freedom;recognition;degree of responsibility;salary;opportunity to use abilities;attention given to suggestions;relationship with hospital physicians, colleagues, and fellow workers;relations between management and workers;working hours;and the amount of variety in their job, but more satisfied with their immediate supervisors. Conclusions: Job satisfaction of PHC physicians is critical for the improvement of health systems. This study showed that GPs (General Practitioners) were more satisfied overall than previously reported studies done in Kuwait. They were moderately satisfied with their salary and the amount of variety in work.展开更多
Objectives: To assess the level of nutritional knowledge (NK) among male Kuwaiti college students and to correlate NK scores with different nutritional domains. Methods: A random sample of 378 students was asked to an...Objectives: To assess the level of nutritional knowledge (NK) among male Kuwaiti college students and to correlate NK scores with different nutritional domains. Methods: A random sample of 378 students was asked to answer a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic and health-related factors and answer questions assessing their NK on different domains. Height and weight were measured. Results: NK was low. NK on sodium and carbohydrates was the highest, where those of protein and cholesterol were the lowest. Only older age, healthy dental status, and high academic achievement in high school were associated with high NK. NK scores of different nutritional domains were weekly correlated with each other. While the NK on cholesterol correlated with NK on all other domains. NK on calories/food intake correlated with less than half of the domains. Conclusion: NK was found to be low and interrelated. NK education should aim to improve NK especially in those groups with the lowest scores.展开更多
Kuwait fish market is one of the richest markets of native marine fish species. Sea catfishes are not very important in economic point of view, and only few of them (four species) are present and mistakenly, they all ...Kuwait fish market is one of the richest markets of native marine fish species. Sea catfishes are not very important in economic point of view, and only few of them (four species) are present and mistakenly, they all named (Chem). Using DNA barcode technique, the common sea catfish present in the East major fish market (Sharq) was analyzed. Based on the most common species ID databases (Barcoding of life database, BOLD and NCBI database), the most proposal identification that is compatible with major survey in 1997, the sea catfish is Plicofollis tenuispinis, the thin-spin sea catfish with similarity 100% and phylogenetic support of 78% bootstrap value. This is the first application of DNA barcode technique to thin-spine sea catfish of Kuwait.展开更多
The incidence of major chronic Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) medically diagnosed or treated, was studies in a cross section of Kuwait adult population as well as their daily levels of physical activity (PA) as recal...The incidence of major chronic Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) medically diagnosed or treated, was studies in a cross section of Kuwait adult population as well as their daily levels of physical activity (PA) as recalled by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ. A group of 1957 subjects 17 - 65 years of age, representative of the Kuwait population was selected using last year high school students and their relatives as well as government workers in each Kuwait governorate. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables, chi square and Fisher tests were used. ANOVA or Mann Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons. The percentage of subjects in the low categorical PA level (from IPAQ) is high (29.4%) even at a young age (17 - 24), similar in prevalence to overweight/obesity (30%). At age 45, obesity increases to 40% with little change in % subjects of low PA. Weighted average categorical PA was 1280 MET.min/week reflecting that the majority (40%) of subjects belonged to the moderate PA category. A high proportion (38%) of subjects in the 17 - 24 age category contributed to the observed level of PA activity. Incidence of overweight and obesity increased from 30 to more than 55% from the second to the sixth decade of life. Hyperlipidemias increased in incidence from 8% to 45% of the sample from the third to the sixth decades of age. Hypertension and diabetes increased from the 4<sup>th</sup> to the 6<sup>th</sup> decades of life to affect from 14% to 40% and from 10% to 36% of the studied population, respectively. Incidence of Heart Disease increased from 9% to 15% of the sample population, between the 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> decades of life. The data indicate a sequence of events, initiated by overweight and obesity as early as in the 2<sup>d</sup> decade of life, followed by hyperlipidemia in the 3<sup>d</sup> decade, diabetes and hypertension in the 4<sup>th</sup>, and heart disease in the 5<sup>th</sup> decade of life. Changes in incidence of low energy expenditure (low PA) were not associated with the observed changes in prevalence of obesity/overweight with age which are likely due to increments in energy intake in groups with insufficient PA. Changes in low PA incidence with age did not correlate with those in NCD. Interventions to minimize overweight and hyperlipidemia should be started in the second and third decades of life respectively. Increases in PA may potentiate the responses to these treatments.展开更多
There is a need to understand gender-dependent lifestyle habits of different ethnic groups in order to comprehend the risk factors associated with the development of obesity. It has been suggested that diet and physic...There is a need to understand gender-dependent lifestyle habits of different ethnic groups in order to comprehend the risk factors associated with the development of obesity. It has been suggested that diet and physical exercise are two primary determinants of health. We examined the dietary habits and physical activity levels of Kuwaiti college women in order to understand these gender-specific factors contributing to obesity. A total of 304 female students were grouped as obese or non-obese as defined by their body mass index (BMI). Our study identified three factors that contributed to obesity: 1) consumption of more calories;2) having obese parents and relatives;and 3) engagement in activities that consume less energy. Therefore, individually targeted weight management programs including healthy eating and active lifestyle interventions with a specific focus on female-friendly physical activity should be promoted within university settings inKuwait.展开更多
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors associated with diabetes and its influence on the prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait. Methods: A questionnaire was designed to explore the relationships be...Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors associated with diabetes and its influence on the prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait. Methods: A questionnaire was designed to explore the relationships between various factors and diabetes in children. The survey included 300 mothers of children up to five years of age in Kuwait and the results were subjected to a two-way contingency table analysis. Results: Variables showing at least a medium effect and a linear relationship are herein reported. Increasing maternal age was found to be related to the increasing prevalence of type 1 diabetes. An association between a higher prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the mother and the child was found. Risk of having a child with diabetes increases with the maternal age. The consumption of fried food or fast food by a child was associated with a higher prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Sugar consumption, both by the mother during pregnancy and by the child, was associated with a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Heavy consumption of nuts by the child was associated with a higher prevalence of type 2. Conclusion: Genetics and environmental factors including diet may play important roles in the causation of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Kuwait.展开更多
In Kuwait, dairy farming faces challenges due to its significant water demands. The current study assessed seasonal patterns of water use to estimate the blue water footprint (WF) and grey WF per kg of fat protein cor...In Kuwait, dairy farming faces challenges due to its significant water demands. The current study assessed seasonal patterns of water use to estimate the blue water footprint (WF) and grey WF per kg of fat protein corrected milk (FPCM) for confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait. Blue and grey WFs were evaluated using data from three operational farms. The average blue WF (L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> FPCM) was estimated to be 54.5 ± 4.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> in summer and 19.2 ± 0.8 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> in winter. The average grey WF (generated from milk house wastewater) was assessed on bimonthly basis and determined based on its phosphate (PO4) concentration (82.2 ± 14.3 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup>) which is the most limiting factor to be 23.0 ± 9.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> FPCM d<sup>-1</sup>. The outcomes indicate that enhancing the performance of dairy cows and adopting alternative water management strategies can play a role in minimizing the impacts of confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait on water quality and quantity.展开更多
AIM: To fi nd the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Kuwait.METHODS: A total of 2851 Kuwaitis applying for new jobs were screened.RESULTS: HAV-positive cases were 28.8%; 59% were males and 41% were...AIM: To fi nd the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Kuwait.METHODS: A total of 2851 Kuwaitis applying for new jobs were screened.RESULTS: HAV-positive cases were 28.8%; 59% were males and 41% were females. The highest prevalence was in the Ahmadi area. High prevalence was among the group of non-educated rather than educated parents. This is the fi rst study in Kuwait demonstrating the shifting epidemiology of HAV.CONCLUSION: This study reflects the need of the Kuwaiti population for an HAV vaccine.展开更多
The State of Kuwait is located in the northwestern Arabian Gulf. It is characterized by arid to semi-arid weather. This study’s concerned with the southern coastal area of the Al-Khiran. The purpose of this study is ...The State of Kuwait is located in the northwestern Arabian Gulf. It is characterized by arid to semi-arid weather. This study’s concerned with the southern coastal area of the Al-Khiran. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and study the geo-history and evolution of geomorphologic features, especially coastal Ridges and Sabkhas in the Al-Khiran study area. This study based on the field observations as well as the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques to establish a geodatabase for the study area in different disciplines. The results showed that the Al-Khiran coastal area was affected by the sea level fluctuation and coastal sedimentation during the Holocene and late Pleistocene. The coastal Ridges were originally coastal dunes, which were composed during the sea regression periods and consolidated with time. These Ridges were developed with time and separated the Al-Khiran area as a closed lagoon. This lagoon dried with time and formed a Sabkha field, especially on the depression zone that intersected or surrounded with the coastal Ridges. The Remote Sensing change detection technique shows that the changes were mainly concentrated on covering Sabkhas in some locations and might be due to the impact of active sand sheets and Aeolian sands. Land development in the Al-Khiran area led to the demolition of most of the coastal Ridges and Sabkha deposits.展开更多
The hazardous effect of water pollution on the histopathology of gill organ of the pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata was studied with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in Al-Khiran coast at Kuwait....The hazardous effect of water pollution on the histopathology of gill organ of the pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata was studied with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in Al-Khiran coast at Kuwait. Thirty oyster samples from each site, site one where dead oysters were located, site two which is two kilometers away from site one and the control site which is ten kilometers away from site one were collected from Al-Khiran area where a massive number of dead oysters were reported. The gills of oysters were immediately removed and transferred to Bouin’s solution for fixation and then processed for sectioning, staining and mounting and gill tissues were ready for examination. Histopathological changes in gills of oysters exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in site one and site two included necrosis and edemas of branchial lamellae, complete degeneration of gill filaments, loss of regular shape and haemolysis, and inflammation. Gill tissues of oysters from the control site had normal appearance. The study showed a clear evidence that PAHs caused severe histopathological changes in gills of pearl oyster Pinctada radiata.展开更多
Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of indoor air pollution, there have been few attempts to delineate the knowledge of and attitudes towards indoor air pollution, as well as the use of said knowledge...Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of indoor air pollution, there have been few attempts to delineate the knowledge of and attitudes towards indoor air pollution, as well as the use of said knowledge and the effect of the attitudes on practice. This study sought to measure these attributes in a representative sample of students and teachers at Kuwait University using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall, the mean values for knowledge and attitudes were 7.88/19 and 3.89/5 respectively, indicating low knowledge and sub-optimal attitudes. The mean value for polluting practices was rather high at 1.05/2. Disappointingly, these results are very similar to those obtained in the previous surveys. Newspapers and magazines (65.8%) were the main source of information, followed by radio and television (62.4%). Teachers were significantly (p < 0.001) more knowledgeable and less likely to engage in polluting practices as compared to the students. Females scored significantly higher (p p < 0.001) more likely to engage in polluting practices. Participants in colleges of Education and Sharia scored significantly (p < 0.05) higher in knowledge compared to those in Medicine and Allied Health, as well as Science and Engineering disciplines. However, the latter were also significantly more likely (p < 0.001) to engage in polluting practices than Medicine and Allied Health, and Law and Arts students. Participants in Medicine and Allied Health scored significantly lower (p < 0.001) on the attitude scale than those in Law and Arts, Education and Sharia, Social Science and Business Administration, and Science and Engineering. A significant Pearson correlation (0.314, p < 0.001) was found between knowledge and attitude. Similarly, a significant negative correlation (−0.067, p < 0.05) was observed between attitudes and engaging in polluting practices. Further research into the dynamics that influences the decision on whether to engage in polluting practices is needed. Also another survey is needed which includes people who are outside the high level education field and make the comparison.展开更多
文摘Background: To prevent infectious diseases and deaths of children, vaccinations play a crucial role in public health strategies in Kuwait. However, it remained uncertain to demonstrate the potential long-term health outcomes of vaccination, including neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term health outcomes of vaccination among Kuwait children from birth to thirteen years old. Objectives: This study included the significant objectives: (1) to compare long-term health effects, including chronic and acute conditions for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and vaccinated children, and (2) to evaluate the association of vaccination with the neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism, and the preventable illnesses. Methods: This prospective study involved a sample of 976 children from Kuwait based on mothers’ reporting. Data collection about the vaccination status of children and various health outcomes relevant to chronic and acute illnesses was performed based on structured questionnaires through an online survey. However, participants were classified into unvaccinated (n = 40), partially vaccinated (n = 222), and fully vaccinated (n = 714). Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, Odds Ratios (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and logistic regression, were performed using SAS (Version 9.4) to determine the associations between vaccination status and health outcomes among children. Results: The study disclosed that vaccinated children showed an increased diagnosis of chronic (allergic rhinitis, allergies, autism spectrum, eczema, neuro-developmental disorders, learning disability, ADHD, and any chronic condition) and acute (whooping cough, pneumonia, rubella, hepatitis A or B, measles, mumps, meningitis, influenza, rotavirus, cancer, chronic fatigue, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, conduct disorder, diabetes type 1 or 2, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, seizures, hearing loss, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and depression) illnesses than unvaccinated children. The fully vaccinated children showed an increased prevalence of influenza diagnosis, while partially vaccinated children were more likely to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis than unvaccinated children. In contrast, unvaccinated were more likely to have been diagnosed with chickenpox and encephalopathy than fully and partially vaccinated. Males with chronic and acute conditions had a lower incidence of allergies and pneumonia, respectively, whereas females had a reduced prevalence of acute illnesses, such as whooping cough, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis A or B among vaccinated (n = 936;combination of partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated) children. Regarding medication use and health service applications, vaccinated children were more likely to use medications for fever, antibiotics, and allergies. In addition, they showed an increased rate of sick visits and emergency visits in the past twelve months. On the other hand, factors like age (2 - 5 years, 6 - 9 years, and 10 - 13 years), birth type (cesarian), and mother suffering during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) were significantly associated with NDD (learning disability, autism spectrum, and attention deficient hyperactivity disorder) in the adjusted analysis. In the interaction model of age and birth type, age (6 - 9 years;OR 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 25.3) and mother suffering (gestational diabetes;OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2) during pregnancy were associated with NDD. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there are some cases where the infection rate is higher among the vaccinated compared to unvaccinated children, or there are no significant differences between the two groups in Kuwait. Upon controlling the factors in the interaction model, the age of 6 to 9 years and gestational diabetic mothers during pregnancy were associated with the synergistic increment of odds with NDD. These data findings are recommended to verify a larger and diverse group of samples to optimize the vaccination on health outcomes in Kuwait children.
文摘Mt. Qomolangma (also known as Mt. Everest), the world's highest mountain, is situated over the world＇s highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau. Because of its height and because of its distance from industrialized areas, the environmental state of the Mt. Qonlolangma region can normally be considered 'undisturbed'. It is interesting to investigate how this “undisturbed” state has been changing with time and whether it has been influenced by large environmentally disruptive events such as the Kuwait oil fires of 1990 and 1991 (Small, 1991). In order to do this, river water samples were collected from the Rongpu River at Rongpu Temple Station in the summers of 1992 and 1993,as was done in 1975, and aerosol samples were collected in the summer of 1992 at the same station as was done in 1980. River water samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Aerosol samples were analyzed using proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) at the University of Fudan in Shanghai. The results show that the concentrations of chemical species in the river water at Rongpu Temple Station were much higher in the summer of 1992 than they were in 1975 and 1993, and the concentrations of atmospheric chemical species were much higher in 1992 than they were in 1980. The environment of the north slope of Mt.Qomolangma was therefore heavily polluted before and / or during the summer of 1992, possibly due to the Kuwait oil fires in 1990 and 1991.
文摘During sampling for spawning stock of the silver pomfret,Pampus argenteus in Kuwait waters,a few seriously deformed individuals were captured.These individuals had been attacked and wounded,but had healed and survived.The fish body deformities are believed to be caused by predation attempts on silver pomfret by predators such as sharks,groupers,and croakers.
文摘The State of Kuwait Ministry of Education (MoE) has clearly defined land use standards for the location of public schools, and an inventory of reserved lands for future facilities. Unless, there is a geographical efficient tool to manage and plan the education system in a rapidly developing country such as Kuwait there will be huge deficit in such services. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to fill in this gap and effectively evaluate and analyze their facilities and unoccupied lands to ensure they continue to meet the population and future needs of Kuwaiti students. This paper utilized the GIS to inventory, map, and analyze MoE facilities and unoccupied land reservations with a goal of improved planning and decision making. Unfortunately, the initial spatial analysis of the data showed huge percent of districts that have no schools failing to meet the minimum standard of the MoE including kindergartens, primary schools, intermediate schools for girls, intermediate schools for boys, secondary schools for girls and secondary schools for boys at 72%, 71%, 48%, 43%, 54%, and 55% respectively. Such critical results will enable the decision makers to prioritize the immediate action of relocation the schools or widen the services and accessibility. Moreover, the analysis of the data showed a critical and immediate need to reserve land for five districts where they are heavily populated and lacked reserved land. However, based on long term land use plans, there is an urgent need to relocate some land and reserve others to meet the future urbanization plans and population growth.
文摘Street-level bureaucrats are described as public service workers who interact directly with citizens in the course of their work and who have substantial discretion in the execution of their work. This article is a reflection of the primary author’s doctoral research experience, which investigated the role of nurses in caring for long-term diabetes patients in two selected hospitals in Kuwait. Nurses working in diabetes care in Kuwait were reported to operate under difficult conditions and utilized the tool of discretion to provide patient care, hence were exemplary street-level bureaucrats.
文摘The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leadership on job creativity in the public institutions of the state of Kuwait. Population of the study consisted of some public bodies, namely： General Investment Corporation, Kuwait Development Fund, Ministry of Planning, and Civil Service Department. There are 540 questionnaires distributed, 15 recovered, and 525 of the distributed questionnaires good for statistical analysis. Analysis of the data depended on descriptive statistical analysis, multi and simple regression. Following the hypotheses test by using the F-test, T-test, R2 coefficient and the One-Way variance analysis （ANOVA） test, the study reached the following results： There is a relation between leadership patterns and job creativity in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. The relation is considered of medium strength, because r = 56.4% and this result matched the results of the previous studies that dealt with the same subject, which indicated that the leadership patterns affect the creative behavior in the organizations at different levels according to the prevalent pattern type. This enhances the logicality of the result, which means that the leadership patterns play a vital role in job creativity in various institutions. Results of the study showed that the democratic pattern is the most prevalent leadership pattern among managers, followed by the unrestrained pattern and finally the authoritarian pattern. Analysis results revealed that there is a weak relation between the authoritarian pattern and the job creativity in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. The weakness of relation between the two variables can be interpreted in view of the fact that the increase of authoritarianism in leadership might give adverse results contrary to the expected and consequently, it is logical that the relation would be weak between the authoritative management approach and job creativity. There is a concern in providing work environment that encourages change in the public institutions of the State of Kuwait. Managers remarkably support the employees＇ efforts in performing the job. The study was concluded by the following recommendations： The effect of the leadership patterns on creative behavior was reached and therefore, the author recommended that it is necessary to choose well-qualified leadership that contributes to achieving excellence in the institutions operating in different sectors; to hold workshops, committees, seminars, and conferences in order to enhance confidence between management and employees; to concentrate on enhancing the democratic administrative pattern in the institutions due to its immense influence on the creative behavior of employees.
文摘Magnetic plant biomonitoring has been proven to be an effective tool in the assessment of air quality. Kuwait presents a unique environment due to its dry desert climatic conditions and prevailing dry deposition patterns that may affect accumulation rates of magnetic mineral particles. This study evaluated two widely distributed ornamental species, buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) and palm (Phoenix dactylifera) for their effectiveness as biomagnetic monitors over three different land use classes (urban, suburban and industrial land classes). The differences between land use classes were classified by their proximity to major pollution sources as well as population density. Leaf sampling was conducted over various heights and distances from the nearest road. Total leaf saturated isothermal magnetization (SIRM), hard isothermal magnetization (HIRM), hard isothermal magnetization percentage (HIRM%) and s-ratio have been measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze leaf surface micromorphology. It was determined that NRM values are similar for all land use classes and species, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 μA. Palm leaf overall magnetic concentration was identified to be higher at the industrial land use class than at the urban land use class, indicating high coercivity minerals to magnetically dominate the land use classes. Additionally, total leaf SIRM was determined to be higher at short distances of 0 - 5 meters from the vicinity of the road. The surface rugosity of palm has deep ridges and furrows with ununiform wax projections across the leaf surface, while buttonwood has a smooth wax film with low relief. Differences in leaf micromorphology in addition to plant physiology, justify species magnetic parametric variances. Palm leaf had an average SIRM value that is 120% higher than buttonwood. It has been highlighted that through the application of the magnetic parameter results to spatial distribution maps that there is an association between particulate matter (PM) and the locality of main roads and local services that may experience higher intensities of traffic.
基金Supported by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS)the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources(PAAFR)+1 种基金the Project of Investigation to Improve Kuwait’s Demersal Trap Fishery of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)which was conducted at the Mariculture and Fisheries Department of KISR
文摘Fish traps were investigated to understand the effects of season, bait type, trap size, and trap soak time on catch rates, catch composition, and trap loss rates from March 2004 to September 2005, to improve the performance and management of Kuwait＇s gargoor （cage style fish trap） fishery, which used to be the nation＇s most important one in terms of value and landings volume. Catch rates were the highest in April/May （5 8 kg/trap haul） and again in December （7 kg/trap haul）. Bait type and trap size also affected catch rates and species composition. Of the seven baits tested, the best catch rates, 〉5 kg/trap haul, occurred with cuttlefish （Sepia pharaonis）, but wolf-herring （Chiroeentrus dorab） and mullet （Liza klunzingeri） also produced good results （4-5 kg/trap haul）. Within the five tested sizes, the two largest-sized traps captured more fish and larger size fish. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） showed significant differences of catch rate among traps with different baits as well as among traps of different sizes. Duncan test further revealed these differences between two specific baits and sizes. Cluster Analysis of species composition showed more differences among different baits than among different trap sizes. Longer soak times did not result in larger catch rates, but increased trap loss. About 10-day soak time resulted in trap loss 7%, while 40-day soak time could result in a loss of around 20%. Consequently, it is recommended that the gargoor be checked every 10 or fewer days. The average overall catch rate during the study period was lower than that of 1980s （4.5 vs. 5.8 kg/trap haul）, indicating a possible decline offish abundance in Kuwait＇s waters. It is recommended that the number of gargoor fishing boats and gargoors from each boat should be limited to allow stock rehabilitation.
文摘The hepatitis C virus(HCV)is estimated to affect 71 million people worldwide.In 2016,the World Health Organization adopted the first global health sector strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.In December 2018,the European Association for the Study of the Liver,International Liver Foundation convened an expert panel to address the elimination of HCV in Kuwait.Several steps have already been taken to eliminate HCV in Kuwait,including free HCV treatment for Kuwait’s citizens,high blood safety standards,and the implementation of screening and awareness programs.The expert panel made several recommendations aimed at accelerating the elimination of HCV in Kuwait:The development of a national strategy and action plan to guide all HCV elimination activities;the formation of a coordination mechanism to support collaboration between hepatitis working committees;the prioritization of microelimination at primary,secondary or tertiary facilities,in prisons and rehabilitation centers;and ensuring the involvement of multiple stakeholders–including relevant civil society groups–in all activities.Enhanced screening and linkage to care should be prioritized in Kuwait,with the expansion of the prescriber base to primary healthcare providers and nurse practitioners to be considered.Raising awareness and educating people about HCV infection also remain essential to achieve the goal of HCV elimination.Lastly,a national HCV registry should be developed to help monitor the implementation of viral hepatitis plans and progress towards achieving national and international targets.
文摘Objectives: To measure the level of job satisfaction among primary health care physicians Ministry of Health (MOH) Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) physicians, to evaluate the physicians’ mental health, and to assess their associated factors. Study Setting: Kuwait Ministry of Health, Primary Care Centers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Data Collection: The study was conducted from July to September, 2017. Of 746 questionnaires distributed to all PHC physicians in the MOH, 417 questionnaires were completed. Information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, work and health-related factors, job satisfaction (using the Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction scale), and mental health (using General Health Questionnaire). Principal Findings: Of participants, 40.8% were male, and 24.9% were Kuwaitis. Median overall job satisfaction was 71.4%. There were significant differences in overall job satisfaction with the physician rank (p = 0.008) and governorate (p = 0.05). The GPs were moderately satisfied with work surroundings;work freedom;recognition;degree of responsibility;salary;opportunity to use abilities;attention given to suggestions;relationship with hospital physicians, colleagues, and fellow workers;relations between management and workers;working hours;and the amount of variety in their job, but more satisfied with their immediate supervisors. Conclusions: Job satisfaction of PHC physicians is critical for the improvement of health systems. This study showed that GPs (General Practitioners) were more satisfied overall than previously reported studies done in Kuwait. They were moderately satisfied with their salary and the amount of variety in work.
文摘Objectives: To assess the level of nutritional knowledge (NK) among male Kuwaiti college students and to correlate NK scores with different nutritional domains. Methods: A random sample of 378 students was asked to answer a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic and health-related factors and answer questions assessing their NK on different domains. Height and weight were measured. Results: NK was low. NK on sodium and carbohydrates was the highest, where those of protein and cholesterol were the lowest. Only older age, healthy dental status, and high academic achievement in high school were associated with high NK. NK scores of different nutritional domains were weekly correlated with each other. While the NK on cholesterol correlated with NK on all other domains. NK on calories/food intake correlated with less than half of the domains. Conclusion: NK was found to be low and interrelated. NK education should aim to improve NK especially in those groups with the lowest scores.
文摘Kuwait fish market is one of the richest markets of native marine fish species. Sea catfishes are not very important in economic point of view, and only few of them (four species) are present and mistakenly, they all named (Chem). Using DNA barcode technique, the common sea catfish present in the East major fish market (Sharq) was analyzed. Based on the most common species ID databases (Barcoding of life database, BOLD and NCBI database), the most proposal identification that is compatible with major survey in 1997, the sea catfish is Plicofollis tenuispinis, the thin-spin sea catfish with similarity 100% and phylogenetic support of 78% bootstrap value. This is the first application of DNA barcode technique to thin-spine sea catfish of Kuwait.
文摘The incidence of major chronic Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) medically diagnosed or treated, was studies in a cross section of Kuwait adult population as well as their daily levels of physical activity (PA) as recalled by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ. A group of 1957 subjects 17 - 65 years of age, representative of the Kuwait population was selected using last year high school students and their relatives as well as government workers in each Kuwait governorate. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables, chi square and Fisher tests were used. ANOVA or Mann Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons. The percentage of subjects in the low categorical PA level (from IPAQ) is high (29.4%) even at a young age (17 - 24), similar in prevalence to overweight/obesity (30%). At age 45, obesity increases to 40% with little change in % subjects of low PA. Weighted average categorical PA was 1280 MET.min/week reflecting that the majority (40%) of subjects belonged to the moderate PA category. A high proportion (38%) of subjects in the 17 - 24 age category contributed to the observed level of PA activity. Incidence of overweight and obesity increased from 30 to more than 55% from the second to the sixth decade of life. Hyperlipidemias increased in incidence from 8% to 45% of the sample from the third to the sixth decades of age. Hypertension and diabetes increased from the 4<sup>th</sup> to the 6<sup>th</sup> decades of life to affect from 14% to 40% and from 10% to 36% of the studied population, respectively. Incidence of Heart Disease increased from 9% to 15% of the sample population, between the 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> decades of life. The data indicate a sequence of events, initiated by overweight and obesity as early as in the 2<sup>d</sup> decade of life, followed by hyperlipidemia in the 3<sup>d</sup> decade, diabetes and hypertension in the 4<sup>th</sup>, and heart disease in the 5<sup>th</sup> decade of life. Changes in incidence of low energy expenditure (low PA) were not associated with the observed changes in prevalence of obesity/overweight with age which are likely due to increments in energy intake in groups with insufficient PA. Changes in low PA incidence with age did not correlate with those in NCD. Interventions to minimize overweight and hyperlipidemia should be started in the second and third decades of life respectively. Increases in PA may potentiate the responses to these treatments.
文摘There is a need to understand gender-dependent lifestyle habits of different ethnic groups in order to comprehend the risk factors associated with the development of obesity. It has been suggested that diet and physical exercise are two primary determinants of health. We examined the dietary habits and physical activity levels of Kuwaiti college women in order to understand these gender-specific factors contributing to obesity. A total of 304 female students were grouped as obese or non-obese as defined by their body mass index (BMI). Our study identified three factors that contributed to obesity: 1) consumption of more calories;2) having obese parents and relatives;and 3) engagement in activities that consume less energy. Therefore, individually targeted weight management programs including healthy eating and active lifestyle interventions with a specific focus on female-friendly physical activity should be promoted within university settings inKuwait.
文摘Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors associated with diabetes and its influence on the prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait. Methods: A questionnaire was designed to explore the relationships between various factors and diabetes in children. The survey included 300 mothers of children up to five years of age in Kuwait and the results were subjected to a two-way contingency table analysis. Results: Variables showing at least a medium effect and a linear relationship are herein reported. Increasing maternal age was found to be related to the increasing prevalence of type 1 diabetes. An association between a higher prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the mother and the child was found. Risk of having a child with diabetes increases with the maternal age. The consumption of fried food or fast food by a child was associated with a higher prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Sugar consumption, both by the mother during pregnancy and by the child, was associated with a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Heavy consumption of nuts by the child was associated with a higher prevalence of type 2. Conclusion: Genetics and environmental factors including diet may play important roles in the causation of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Kuwait.
文摘In Kuwait, dairy farming faces challenges due to its significant water demands. The current study assessed seasonal patterns of water use to estimate the blue water footprint (WF) and grey WF per kg of fat protein corrected milk (FPCM) for confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait. Blue and grey WFs were evaluated using data from three operational farms. The average blue WF (L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> FPCM) was estimated to be 54.5 ± 4.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> in summer and 19.2 ± 0.8 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> in winter. The average grey WF (generated from milk house wastewater) was assessed on bimonthly basis and determined based on its phosphate (PO4) concentration (82.2 ± 14.3 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup>) which is the most limiting factor to be 23.0 ± 9.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg<sup>-1</sup> FPCM d<sup>-1</sup>. The outcomes indicate that enhancing the performance of dairy cows and adopting alternative water management strategies can play a role in minimizing the impacts of confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait on water quality and quantity.
文摘AIM: To fi nd the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Kuwait.METHODS: A total of 2851 Kuwaitis applying for new jobs were screened.RESULTS: HAV-positive cases were 28.8%; 59% were males and 41% were females. The highest prevalence was in the Ahmadi area. High prevalence was among the group of non-educated rather than educated parents. This is the fi rst study in Kuwait demonstrating the shifting epidemiology of HAV.CONCLUSION: This study reflects the need of the Kuwaiti population for an HAV vaccine.
文摘The State of Kuwait is located in the northwestern Arabian Gulf. It is characterized by arid to semi-arid weather. This study’s concerned with the southern coastal area of the Al-Khiran. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and study the geo-history and evolution of geomorphologic features, especially coastal Ridges and Sabkhas in the Al-Khiran study area. This study based on the field observations as well as the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques to establish a geodatabase for the study area in different disciplines. The results showed that the Al-Khiran coastal area was affected by the sea level fluctuation and coastal sedimentation during the Holocene and late Pleistocene. The coastal Ridges were originally coastal dunes, which were composed during the sea regression periods and consolidated with time. These Ridges were developed with time and separated the Al-Khiran area as a closed lagoon. This lagoon dried with time and formed a Sabkha field, especially on the depression zone that intersected or surrounded with the coastal Ridges. The Remote Sensing change detection technique shows that the changes were mainly concentrated on covering Sabkhas in some locations and might be due to the impact of active sand sheets and Aeolian sands. Land development in the Al-Khiran area led to the demolition of most of the coastal Ridges and Sabkha deposits.
文摘The hazardous effect of water pollution on the histopathology of gill organ of the pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata was studied with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in Al-Khiran coast at Kuwait. Thirty oyster samples from each site, site one where dead oysters were located, site two which is two kilometers away from site one and the control site which is ten kilometers away from site one were collected from Al-Khiran area where a massive number of dead oysters were reported. The gills of oysters were immediately removed and transferred to Bouin’s solution for fixation and then processed for sectioning, staining and mounting and gill tissues were ready for examination. Histopathological changes in gills of oysters exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in site one and site two included necrosis and edemas of branchial lamellae, complete degeneration of gill filaments, loss of regular shape and haemolysis, and inflammation. Gill tissues of oysters from the control site had normal appearance. The study showed a clear evidence that PAHs caused severe histopathological changes in gills of pearl oyster Pinctada radiata.
文摘Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of indoor air pollution, there have been few attempts to delineate the knowledge of and attitudes towards indoor air pollution, as well as the use of said knowledge and the effect of the attitudes on practice. This study sought to measure these attributes in a representative sample of students and teachers at Kuwait University using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall, the mean values for knowledge and attitudes were 7.88/19 and 3.89/5 respectively, indicating low knowledge and sub-optimal attitudes. The mean value for polluting practices was rather high at 1.05/2. Disappointingly, these results are very similar to those obtained in the previous surveys. Newspapers and magazines (65.8%) were the main source of information, followed by radio and television (62.4%). Teachers were significantly (p < 0.001) more knowledgeable and less likely to engage in polluting practices as compared to the students. Females scored significantly higher (p p < 0.001) more likely to engage in polluting practices. Participants in colleges of Education and Sharia scored significantly (p < 0.05) higher in knowledge compared to those in Medicine and Allied Health, as well as Science and Engineering disciplines. However, the latter were also significantly more likely (p < 0.001) to engage in polluting practices than Medicine and Allied Health, and Law and Arts students. Participants in Medicine and Allied Health scored significantly lower (p < 0.001) on the attitude scale than those in Law and Arts, Education and Sharia, Social Science and Business Administration, and Science and Engineering. A significant Pearson correlation (0.314, p < 0.001) was found between knowledge and attitude. Similarly, a significant negative correlation (−0.067, p < 0.05) was observed between attitudes and engaging in polluting practices. Further research into the dynamics that influences the decision on whether to engage in polluting practices is needed. Also another survey is needed which includes people who are outside the high level education field and make the comparison.
