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Diseases pattern among patients attending Holy Mosque (Haram) Medical Centers during Hajj 1434 (2013)
Abdulrahman R Bakhsh1, Abdulfattah I Sindy, Mostafa J Baljoon
1Emergency Department, Ajyad Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. research@healthcareexpertise.org.
Insights
During Hajj 2013, respiratory issues were the most common ailment among pilgrims, followed by skin and gastrointestinal diseases. Most patients received treatment at local healthcare centers, with few requiring referral to tertiary care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The Hajj pilgrimage attracts millions of individuals globally.
- Pilgrims are susceptible to various health issues due to close proximity and environmental factors.
- Understanding disease patterns is crucial for effective healthcare provision during Hajj.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalent diseases among pilgrims attending healthcare centers at the Holy Mosque during Hajj 1434 (2013).
- To identify demographic characteristics of pilgrims seeking medical attention.
- To assess the healthcare utilization patterns, including referrals to tertiary centers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted over 16 days during Hajj 1434 (October 2013).
- Data was collected from two healthcare centers within the Holy Mosque in Makkah.
- Patient demographics and diagnoses were recorded for analysis.
Main Results:
- A total of 1008 pilgrims attended the centers, with a slight majority being male (55%).
- The most common nationalities were Egyptian (24%), Saudi (11.5%), and Pakistani (11.3%).
- Respiratory problems (17.6%) were the leading cause of illness, followed by skin diseases (15.7%) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases (13.2%).
Conclusions:
- Respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases were the primary health concerns for pilgrims during Hajj 1434.
- The majority of cases (83.5%) were managed and discharged from local centers.
- Less than 25% of pilgrims required referral to tertiary care facilities, indicating effective primary care management.
Objective:
To evaluate the diseases pattern among pilgrims attending the 2 Holy Mosque (Haram) Health Care Centers during the Hajj season 2013 (Hijra 1434).
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, data was collected from 2 medical centers located in the Holy Mosque in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, from the first of Dhul-Hijjah to sixteenth Dhul-Hijjah 1434. The present study was completed in 16 days (6th October to 21st October 2013).
Results:
Over 16 days, 1008 patients attended the medical centers during Hajj 1434, (2013), out of which 554 (55%) were males and 454 (45%) were females. Most of the patients were Egyptians (n=242, 24%), followed by Saudis (n=116, 11.5%), Pakistani (n=114, 11.3%), Turkish (n=50, 5%), and other nationalities (n=404). According to age distribution, mostly were in the 51-60 years age group (n=237, 23.5%), followed by other age groups. Out of 1008 patients, 842 (83.5%) patients were treated and subsequently discharged, while 166 patients (16.5%) were referred to the tertiary centers. According to the diseases pattern, most of the patients were suffering from respiratory problems (n=177, 17.6%) followed by skin diseases (n=158, 15.7%), gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases (n=133, 13.2%), and others.
Conclusion:
Most of the patients were suffering from respiratory problems followed by skin and GIT diseases, and less than 25% of patients were referred to tertiary care centers.
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