East Countries Research Articles

Epidemiological Aspects of Road Accidents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Countries from 1990 to 2019

Background: Road accidents are a major public health concern globally and are expected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the consequences of road accidents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by analyzing data from 21 countries and approximately 400 million people Methods: The data used was from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) in 2019, which defines traffic accidents as deaths resulting from external injury causes based on the international classification of diseases (ICD). Results: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) in the MENA region have decreased from 1990 to 2019. Motor vehicles have the highest death rate from RTIs at 15.32 per 100,000, followed by pedestrians at 8.37 per 100,000, motorcyclists at 2.16 per 100,000, and cyclists at 0.35 per 100,000. Saudi Arabia (46.7 per 100,000) and Oman (25.5 per 100,000) have the highest death rates for motor vehicle-related road injuries, while Oman (17.7 per 100,000) and Yemen (12.95 per 100,000) have the highest rates for pedestrian-related road injuries. Conclusions: Given the significant impact of road accidents in the countries of the region, it is crucial to address this issue through various measures. These should include training initiatives, preventive measures, and a review of traffic laws and regulations.

The Impact of Customs Revenues on The General Budget Deficit in A Middle East Country

This research aims to identify the concept of customs revenues and their impact on the state’s general budget deficit. The problem of the study stems from the following question: What is the impact of customs revenues on the general budget deficit in Iraq? To answer this question, this research uses the deductive approach and the estimation approach by analyzing and measuring the impact of customs revenues in supporting the state’s general budget. Among the most important results of the study are: There are many reasons that led to the emergence of a deficit in the state’s general budget throughout the study period, the most important of which is the decrease in Customs revenues as a result of the weak role of tax revenues It recommended the need to address the imbalance in the structure of public revenues by activating the role of taxes and fees and reducing dependence on the oil resource.

Spotlight on the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Vibrio species in the MENA region, 2000-2023.

Recent cholera outbreaks in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have raised public health concerns and focused attention on the genus Vibrio. However, the epidemiology of Vibrio species in humans, water, and seafood is often anecdotal in this region. In this review, we screened the literature and provided a comprehensive assessment of the distribution and antibiotic resistance properties of Vibrio species in different clinical and environmental samples in the region. This review will contribute to understanding closely the real burden of Vibrio species and the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains in the MENA region. The overall objective is to engage epidemiologists, sanitarians and public health stakeholders to address this problem under the One-health ethos.

Türkiye's 3-Year Coronavirus Disease 2019 Publication Performance in the Shadow of the Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The pandemic created by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led researchers to study to deal with this infection. The number of studies about it being performed and published is increasing over time. Due to the dramatic growth of COVID-19 scientific publications, we conducted a bibliometric and visualized study to better understand the progress, collaborations, and trend topics of COVID-19 publications in Türkiye. Material and Methods: The scientific literature on COVID-19 research in Türkiye from 2020 to 2022 was extracted from the Scopus database and analyzed using bibliometric and scientometric techniques. A total of 426.662 COVID-19-related publications were published worldwide in the 3-year period and Türkiye ranked 12th according to both publication (8.394) and case numbers (17.004.677). The most cooperations of Türkiye were with the USA, the UK, and Italy. The 5 most used keywords were determined as "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "Pandemics," "Coronavirus," and "Anxiety" respectively. It was determined by the keyword analysis that the most focused topics were related to the "COVID-19 clinic." Türkiye did not lag behind in the number of studies on her geography, and it was seen to be in the leading position compared to the Middle East countries. It is important to periodically evaluate such a large number of research articles from a broad perspective for planning and direction of future studies.

Measuring progress towards universal health coverage in 22 Middle East and North African countries

PurposeMonitoring progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) has become increasingly important, especially given the centrality of UHC in achieving the sustainable development goals. We sought to estimate the progress towards UHC in the 22 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. MethodsEmploying the Joint World Bank and World Health Organization Framework for Monitoring UHC, we estimated the UHC index for MENA countries using both service coverage and financial protection indicators. We also explored the correlation between the UHC index with government expenditure/investment in health. ResultsThe 2021 UHC index ranged from 48.2 (Somalia) to 90.3 (United Arab Emirates) with a mean, median, and standard deviation of 74.9, 77.4, and 11.1, respectively, with significant differences between low-income and high-income countries. Service coverage lags behind financial protection in most MENA countries. There is a significant positive relationship between UHC and government health spending/investments. ConclusionThe majority of MENA countries are yet to achieve UHC. There is a need to expand healthcare services, especially PHC services, and adopt strategies that address concerns related to financial protection.

Impact of total quality management practices on competitive advantage in Jordan's private higher education institutions

This study aims to determine whether both soft and hard total quality management (TQM) practices influence the creation of competitive advantage in private higher education institutions in Jordan. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire from a sample of 108 academics working in these institutions, using convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, were used to describe the sample. The study employed multiple linear regression analysis, which revealed that both soft and hard TQM practices have a significant positive impact on creating a competitive advantage. The study recommends further research on the role of soft and hard TQM practices, particularly in the business environments of developing countries in the Middle East, with a focus on the manufacturing industries.

THE CONFLICT OF INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST: THE ROLE OF THE USA, RUSSIA AND CHINA

With its vast energy reserves, strategic location, and complex socio-political landscape, the Middle East has been a central arena of global power struggle for centuries, attracting the attention of international powers. Today, the region is witnessing significant geopolitical competition between the United States, Russia, and China, each vying for influence and seeking to shape the future of the Middle East according to their strategic interests. The roles and interests of these three countries in the Middle East are manifested in the following directions.

REFLECTION OF THE BEIRUT NEWSPAPER “AZDAK” ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE DURING THE APRIL WAR

The centuries-old presence of Armenians in the Middle East and the active work of the Armenian periodical press also includes coverage of the activities of Armenian lobbying organizations operating in the Diaspora, including the Armenian National Committee. The April 2016 war was the first large-scale aggression organized by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh since the ceasefire in 1994. During the hostilities and in the following days, the Armenian National Committee was active. organized protests and information campaigns, held meetings and discussions with a number of political and public figures, widely covering the events taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh and demanding a proper response from the international community. The 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020, and the depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 showed that the conflict resolution process and the efforts of Armenians in its direction need coverage and comprehensive analysis. It is important for the Armenian historiography to assess the activities of Armenian lobbying organizations operating in the Diaspora and to cover it on the pages of the Armenian press in the Middle East. Among them, the daily newspaper Azdak, published in Beirut during the April War, actively covers the activities of the Armenian National Committee, the situation in NagornoKarabakh and Armenia, which presents it from a pro-nationalist position. The novelty of this research is that until now Armenian historiography has not studied the reaction of the Armenian National Committee in Armenian periodicals published in the Armenian-dominated countries of the Middle East.

Multiple incursions of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O into the Republic of Korea between 2010 and 2019

This study characterised type O foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) viruses recovered from outbreaks that were reported between 2010 and 2019 in the Republic of Korea. We used 96 newly generated whole-genome sequences (WGS) along with 131 already published WGSs from samples collected from countries in East and Southeast Asia. We identified at least eight independent introductions of O/SEA/Mya-98 and O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e FMDV strains into the Republic of Korea during the study period, which were closely related to the sequences of viruses circulating in the East and Southeast Asia neighbourhood with over 97 % nucleotide identity. Spatial-temporal transitions of O/SEA/Mya-98 lineage viruses recovered from the largest outbreak (2014–16) showed that after initial cases were detected within a 15-day period in July 2014, a single introduction of the same virus during December 2014 generated extensive forward virus transmission between farms that lasted until March 2016. We estimated that secondary transmissions were responsible for infection on 44 % FMD affected farms, over a total of 14 generations of infection. We eastimated a median evolutionry rate of 2.51 × 10−5 nt/site/day, which is similar for other FMD epidemic scenarios. These findings suggest that regular incursions of different FMDV lineages into the Republic of Korea have posed a continuous threat from endemic countries of East and Southeast Asia. These data highlight the importance of active cooperation and information exchange on FMD situation within Asian countries and assessment about the likely risk routes of virus movement is highly necessary to prevent further incursion and virus spread of FMDV in the Republic of Korea.

Clinical trials operated in Egypt : big data analysis study

Abstract: Clinical trials are one of the most direction, approached by physicians/researchers in the medical sciences field. Clinicaltrials.gov is one of the most comprehensive databases around the world, in this field. It is including clinical trials going in United States, and outside United States. The website is mentioning that the database or US government is not scientifically responsible for these trials. “The U.S. government does not review or approve the safety and science of all studies listed on this website” Egypt is one of the most important countries in the Middle East, with a long history in medical sciences as well. Provided in clinicaltrials.gov around 10 thousand trails going in Egypt. Goal of this study: In this study the author analyzed the whole trials going in Egypt, to reflect the patterns and elements of these medical trials. Research method: The method I used, is the scientometric analysis approach, analyzing the whole big data with the number of 10530 medical clinical trials, in Egypt. Conclusions: Findings varies between several elements, such as: The most rated subject is “Postoperative Pain” as this is the most condition/subject studied in clinical trials ran in Egypt. The majority of clinical trials in Egypt, started 1/1/2019. Number of these trials were 129 clinical trials. The majority of “primary completed date” was December the first, 2023. Number of trials completed at that date were 64 clinical trials in Egypt. The majority of “completion date” was December, 2023. Number of trials completed at that date were 72 clinical trials in Egypt. The majority of “first posted date” was May, 2023. Keywords: Big data, Medical research, Medical information, Clinical trials, Egypt, Egyptian clinical trials, Scientometric analysis.

The health behaviors differences among male and female school-age adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa region countries: a meta-analysis of the Global School-based Student Health Survey data.

Understanding gender disparities in adolescent health behaviors is crucial for developing targeted health promotion strategies. This study uses data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) across 17 MENA countries to analyze gender differences in adolescent health behaviors, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview for both boys and girls. This meta-analysis incorporates data from recent years of the GSHS, covering 17 MENA countries. The objective was to assess and compare health behaviors between adolescent girls and boys. A random-effects model was employed to calculate odds ratios for gender comparisons in these behaviors. Statistical analyses and modeling were performed using JAMOVI software. In most MENA countries, boys consumed more vegetables compared to girls. Girls were less likely to frequent fast food establishments (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.98) and generally exhibited better self-care behaviors. Boys reported a higher prevalence of physical altercations (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.88-2.51) and were more involved in fights (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.46-3.67). Girls were more likely to miss school without permission and were consistently described as kinder and more helpful across various income levels. However, in some countries such as Oman and Tunisia, boys missed school more frequently. There were no significant gender differences in parental oversight of homework or knowledge of students' activities, but girls were reported to have stronger parental relationships and better parental understanding of their problems and free time, with exceptions in Morocco and the Palestinian Territory-Gaza. Boys were more likely to engage in smoking (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.69-4.76) and other substance use. Conversely, girls reported higher levels of physical inactivity and loneliness, but also demonstrated greater kindness and helpfulness in school settings and stronger parental relationships. Policymakers in the MENA region should develop and implement gender-specific interventions targeting key areas such as hygiene practices, physical activity, and substance use. By focusing on these targeted strategies, they can address the distinct health behaviors and needs of both boys and girls. Effective interventions in these areas are crucial for improving overall health outcomes and promoting healthier lifestyles, thereby enhancing adolescent health and well-being across the region.

Use of Cardiovascular Disease Secondary Prevention Medications in Four Middle East Countries in a Community Setting.

Evidence-based International clinical practice guidelines, universally recommend secondary prevention medications for those with previous cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is limited data on the community use of these medications in the Middle East (ME). This study assesses the use and predictors of evidence based secondary prevention medications in individuals with a history of CVD [coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke]. Between 2005 and 2015, we enrolled 11,228 individuals aged between 35-70 years from 52 urban and 35 rural communities from four ME countries, United Arab Emirates (n = 1499), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n = 2046), Occupied Palestinian Territory (n = 1668) and Islamic Republic of Iran (n = 6013). With standardized questionnaires, we report estimates of medication use in those with CVD at national level and the independent predictors of their utilization through a multivariable analysis model. Results: Of the total ME cohort, 614 (5.5%) had CVD, of which 115 (1.0%) had stroke, 523 (4.7%) had CHD and 24 (0.2%) had both. The mean age of those with CVD was 56.6 ± 8.8 years and 269 (43.8%) were female. Overall, only 23.5% of those with CVD reported using three or more proven secondary prevention medications, and a substantial proportion (stroke 27.8%, CHD 25.8%) did not take any of these medications. In a fully adjusted analysis, increasing age, female gender, higher education, higher wealth in individual household, residence in a higher income country as well as being obese, hypertensive or diabetic were independent predictors of medication use. The use of secondary prevention medication is low in ME and has not reached the modest recommended WHO target of 50% use of 3 or more medications. Independent factors of higher use were, better socioeconomic status (household wealth, country wealth and education) and better contact and accessibility to health care (increasing age, female gender, obesity, diabetes and hypertension).

School Enrollment Ratios and Their Optimality Towards the Economic Growth of Middle East Countries in the Twenty-First Century: PSTR Analysis

School Enrollment Ratios and Their Optimality Towards the Economic Growth of Middle East Countries in the Twenty-First Century: PSTR Analysis

The Strategy of Information Confrontation of the Countries of the Collective West in the Arab Countries of the Middle East and North Africa

The Strategy of Information Confrontation of the Countries of the Collective West in the Arab Countries of the Middle East and North Africa

Marriage and Family Relations in Ancient Eastern Civilizations

This article examines the relationships related to marriage and family in the countries of the Ancient East. Their specifics in Ancient Egypt, Babylon, Ancient India and Ancient China are presented. Their study makes it possible to reach the genesis and trace and better explain the development of marriage and family relations.

Rethinking and advancing the movement of resistance, activism, and advocacy in health in four central arenas of the Middle East Region

AbstractThe Middle East region has a long history of resistance, activism, and advocacy movements in health, most recently as part of the 2011 region‐wide Arab Spring. Despite this storied history, however, movements of resistance, activism, and advocacy in health in the region are rarely unpacked, examined, or documented. This historical and contextual analysis aims to examine the long‐standing confiscated health rights and subsequent experiences of resistance, activism, and advocacy in health in populations in Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq. Promoting a health equity and health rights‐based approach is key to achieving Universal Health Coverage and health‐related Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in contexts that experience fragile socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions and political instability such as many countries in the Middle East. Marginalized populations, including Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, Lebanese Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender+ (LGBT) communities, Egyptian women and girls affected by Female Genital Mutilation, and Iraqi refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, have been severely impacted by decades of oppression, conflict, and displacement. These populations have faced various forms of discrimination, neglect, and violence that have hindered their access to quality healthcare and basic health rights. Rather than relying on government efforts, local and international movements to advocate for and protect the health rights of these populations are key. Innovative approaches, strategic dialogue and collective actions are prerequisites for promoting resistance, activism, and advocacy in health in all country's systems structure. This analysis highlights the important of this social public health issue in the most turbulent region and provides evidence to guide all countries to realize equitable human rights for health for all populations.

Carbonate rocks and karst water resources in the Mediterranean region

Carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region form karst landscapes with a variety of morphological and hydrological features, and are of particular interest from a water management perspective as they represent major karst aquifers. The Mediterranean Karst Aquifer Map and Database (MEDKAM) provides a 1:5,000,000 scale map showing the distribution of carbonate and evaporite rocks that can host karst groundwater resources, with additional information on other hydrogeological settings, selected terrestrial and submarine karst springs, caves and karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems. A statistical evaluation shows that carbonate rocks cover ~39.5% of the Mediterranean region within a 250-km focus area from the coastline. North Africa has the largest continuous area of carbonate rocks, while smaller countries in the Middle East and the Dinarides have the largest proportion of carbonate rocks in relation to their total area. Carbonate rocks are also widespread in coastal areas, occurring along ~33.6% (14,000 km) of the total Mediterranean coastline, including large islands such as Crete and Mallorca, and ~25.9% (6,400 km) of the continental coastline. Two additional maps display (1) groundwater recharge, showing a climatic gradient from north to south, and (2) groundwater storage trends, indicating a mean annual karst groundwater loss from 2003 to 2020 of 436 million m3 in the 250-km area. This study quantifies the carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region and shows their importance for groundwater resources. MEDKAM will serve as a basis for further research and improved international cooperation in karst groundwater management.

The Recurrence Rate of Colorectal Polyps among Patients with Average Risk of Colorectal Cancer.

CRC is going to be an important issue in Middle East countries. Also, the main parts of this cancer develop from benign adenomas. To understand the recurrence rate of colorectal polyps among average-risk subjects. In a prospective study, the average-risk patients with colorectal adenoma were enrolled in this study based on inclusion criteria. The patients were consulted annually by an expert gastroenterologist. A control colonoscopy was programmed after three years of follow-up. It was not an obligation to follow our program, and each patient could exit the study at any time. The patient who developed one of the exclusion criteria was also withdrawn from the study by the gastroenterologist of this study. 237 patients were enrolled in this study. Of them, 102 patients completed their 3-year follow-up. Among these participants, 62 (60.8%) were male and 40 (39.2%) were female, with a mean age of 57.05 ± 12.87 years. Additionally, 20 (19.6%) subjects had adenomatous polyps at the end of the study. Patients with recurrent colorectal polyps tend to be raised in large ones with a tubulovillous morphology. The polyps were more commonly located in the sigmoid colon, rectum. Furthermore, high-grade dysplasia was recorded in 5 patients. Tubulovillous polyp had higher chance of recurrence than patients with tubular polyp. We believe the colonoscopy screening needs to be set up in regions previously considered low-risk for CRC. Also, it may be valuable to control colonoscopy for less than three years in patients with dysplasia.

A Systematic Review of Muslim Women’s Knowledge, Perception and View Toward Breast Milk Donation and Milk Bank

Background: Prematurely born, low birth weight, or sick infants are vulnerable and often do not receive enough breast milk from their mothers. In such cases, donated breast milk from other mothers can be safely stored in a milk bank. However, some Muslim countries have been hesitant to establish milk banks due to religious and ethical concerns. Despite this, a few Muslim nations have established Muslim-friendly milk banks to meet the increasing demand for donated breast milk. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether the Muslim community will fully embrace these efforts. This systematic review aims to gather and appraise evidence on Muslim knowledge, perceptions, and views towards breast milk donation and establishing Muslim-friendly milk banks. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Wiley Online Library, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost databases using specific search terms and keywords. The search aimed to identify articles published between 2016 and November 2023 that discuss Muslim knowledge, perceptions, and views regarding breastmilk donation, as well as the establishment of Muslim-friendly milk banks. The identified articles were then screened and retrieved. Results: A total of 2498 articles were initially retrieved out of which only twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were finally considered for analysis. All the studies were conducted in Middle East countries among Muslim women. The analysis revealed that the majority of Muslim women were not aware of the availability of Muslim-friendly milk banks. They showed reluctance in donating their breast milk due to religious concerns. Moreover, a significant proportion of women expressed their doubts about the endorsement of milk banking due to religious beliefs and concerns regarding the potential transmission of diseases. Conclusion: Recent studies have shown that there is a lack of awareness regarding Muslim-friendly milk banks, and there are also negative perceptions and views about donating breast milk and setting up milk banks. It is important to provide information that can increase women’s confidence and encourage them to participate in breast milk donation and milk bank utilisation.

The legal, policy, institutional and programmatic context for protecting children against online sexual exploitation in Tunisia

AbstractEvidence is absent in the legal, policy and programmatic landscape of online child sexual exploitation in countries in the Global South. Our work begins to contribute to filling this literature gap, drawing evidence from Tunisia, one of the least studied countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). We reviewed legal and policy documents directly or indirectly connected to online child sexual exploitation, complemented with interviews from diverse actors in the child protection space at the national and sub‐national levels. We note that Tunisia is a signatory to several international and regional treaties and conventions that can be leveraged to tackle online sexual exploitation of children. Still, these have yet to be fully exploited for the benefit of children. Furthermore, we observed several disparate laws at the country level. These laws are scattered in many legal documents, and some aspects could be more specific, but currently not, which poses significant legal challenges to protecting children. Finally, many institutions implementing programmes in this space create less coordination and sometimes confusion. At best, interventions seem ad hoc without any clear mandate of specificity in institutional leadership. The implications of the findings for policies and programmes are highlighted.