TITLE:
Peptic Ulcer Diseases among Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Nahlah Alsogaih, Juliann Saquib, Rashid Alshammari, Muneeb Qayyum, Muath Alzughabi, Khalid Alkhiari, Ahmed Dildar, Abdulrahman Almazrou, Nazmus Saquib
KEYWORDS:
Epidemiology, Migrant Workers, Occupation, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Saudi Arabia
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.11,
October
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Although migrant workers make up nearly one-third of the Saudi population, there is no data on peptic ulcer diseases (PUD) among them. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of PUD in a sample of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Migrant workers (n = 2123) from seven different occupations (i.e., auto repair, construction, hairdressers, hospital cleaners, poultry factory, restaurants, and city cleaners) from Al Qassim province in Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. They were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire on demography, lifestyle, job factors, and chronic health conditions. A worker had PUD if he reported having this condition diagnosed by a physician and was taking medication for it. Binary logistic regression was employed to explore risk factors of PUD. Results: The mean age (standard deviation) was 35 ± 9 years. The prevalence of PUD was 4% and varied by occupation, with the highest among auto-repair workers (8.3%) and the lowest among construction workers (1.8%). Lifestyle characteristics such as diet, self-rated health status, smoking, and stress, were significantly associated with peptic ulcers. Conclusion: The prevalence of peptic ulcers among migrant workers in Saudi Arabia (4%) was not significantly different from the general population or the global prevalence of 5% - 10%. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.