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Outpatient Services during (1423h) Hajj Season
Haani A S Shakir1, Zohair J Gazzaz, Khalid O Dhaffar
1Health Research Centre, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, P.O. Box 6251, Holy Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Non-Hajj patients outnumbered pilgrims at the Outpatient Department (OPD) during Hajj. Respiratory diseases were most common, highlighting infection risks in dense crowds and the need for preventative measures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Hajj pilgrimage attracts millions, creating unique public health challenges due to population density.
- Understanding patient demographics and disease patterns during Hajj is crucial for resource allocation and disease prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze patient demographics, disease trends, and medication patterns at the Outpatient Department (OPD) during the Hajj season.
- To identify the most common health issues and patient profiles attending the OPD in Holy Makkah.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study was conducted at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital's OPD over 15 days during Hajj 1423H.
- Data on age, sex, nationality, clinic visits, diagnoses, and medications were collected from registered patients using standard health forms.
Main Results:
- 3856 patients registered at the OPD; non-Hajj patients constituted the majority.
- Respiratory diseases were the most common ailment (41%), with the 51-60 age group being the largest among Hajj patients.
- The medical clinic received the highest number of patients, and most were treated with single-drug therapy (94.5%).
Conclusions:
- Non-Hajj patients formed the majority of OPD attendees.
- Respiratory infections were the predominant health concern, indicating potential for cross-infection.
- Findings emphasize the need for enhanced public health services and preventative strategies during Hajj to mitigate disease transmission.
Objective:
To analyse the pattern of patients attending the Out Patient Department (OPD) during the Hajj season 1423H with respect to their age, sex, nationality, services provided to them, and most importantly the disease trends and the medication given.
Method:
A descriptive study was done at the OPD department in Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Holy Makkah for the 15 days period of the Hajj, i.e., 1-15 /12/1423 corresponding to 2-16/ 02/2003. All patients who arrived at the OPD during that time whether on Hajj or non-Hajj and those who registered at OPD service became part of our study. With the help of standard "Blue Form"(provided annually by Ministry of Health exclusively for the OPD patients for every Hajj season), their age, sex, nationality, clinics attended, diagnosis and medications were noted.
Results:
The results revealed that 3876 patients arrived and 3856 got registration at OPD. Of the registered cases, 1282 (33%) were Hajj patients and of those 873 (22%) were males. The Hajj patients were mostly non-Saudi (30.8%). The majority of patients, 384 (26.1%), were from the Middle East. The largest category, 240 (6.2%), of Hajj patients were in the age range 51-60 years. The medical clinic was the one attended by the maximum number of patients, 1675 (43.4%), and respiratory disease cases, 1582 (41%), were the commonest. Single medication as monotherapy accounted for 3644 (94.5%) of patients.
Conclusion:
Non-Hajj patients were in the majority at OPD. Respiratory diseases were the commonest complaints. This study highlights a precarious situation during the Hajj where cross-infection proliferates in a dense population. Effective services and preventative measures need to be contemplated in the light of the present finding.
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