Risk Factors of Pregnant Saudi Arabian Women

Assessments of demographic risk factors for Saudi Arabian women's pregnancy are scarce. Even as late as 1986, Nagi stated that:

The Gulf States - Kuwait, Gatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - are best known in the West as major oil producing countries. Scant information is available about their socioeconomic structure and much less is known about their population and demographic characteristics. (p.1)

However, since Nagi's study time some research has been conducted. For example, in their study of Kuwait in particular and the Middle East in general, Shah and Shah (1990) reported that there is disparity in infant mortality levels as a function of socioeconomic status. Specifically, the higher the socioeconomic status, the lower the probability of infant mortality. While the Saudi population has greatly increased its socioeconomic status in the last few decades, there are indications that many thousands remain poor, especially immigrants and villagers (Musagir, 1987).

Guzman-de-Manrique (1989) has noted that both low socioeconomic status and poor

. . .
n increase their nutritional deficiency leading to a number of additional physical problems which, as a result, place the fetus in jeopardy. Musaiger (1987) attributes the high rates of obesity found in women living in the Gulf to a sedentary and inactive lifestyle, over-eating, the high occurrence of multi-pregnancies, and the shift from breast to bottle feeding. Musaiger (1987) reported that both iron deficiency anemia and hereditary anemia is high in the Gulf, especially among rural populations. The hereditary anemia is said to be duet to the custom of marrying close relatives over several generations. Iron deficiency anemia, highest in samples of young, menstruating females and pregnant women, is thought to be related to the high levels of parasitic infection and eating habits which do not often include Vitamin C for iron absorption. Further, Musaiger states that the dietary habits of pregnant women in Gulf countries are based more on regional superstitions than on knowledge of nutrition. For example, in Bahrain, Musaiger found that pregnant women avoided eating shrimps, lentils, radishes and cantaloupes because they believed that the foods would cause bleeding. Poor weight gain is another risk factor. Williams, Creasy
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Allgeier Allgeier, Saudi Arabian, Third World, Pregnancy Anemia, Shah Shah, Risks Drugs, Health Centers, Edenessee Swailen, Middle Eastern, Norris Tashiro, saudi women, health care, saudi females, prenatal care, medical risks, low birth-weight, weight gain, pregnant saudi, socioeconomic status, musagier 1987, health care risks, allgeier allgeier 1985, pregnant saudi females, absence nutritional information, shah shah 1990,
Approximate Word count = 2559
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Risk Factors of Pregnant Saudi Arabian Women