Health Risk Behaviors and Associated Factors Among Hajj 2024 Pilgrims: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study

The Hajj, a massive annual pilgrimage to Mecca, attracts over 2 million participants. The physically demanding rituals, extreme heat, and crowding increase the risk of injuries worsen chronic conditions, and facilitate infectious disease transmission. Therefore, this study aims to assess the risk behavior and associated factors among pilgrims during the Hajj season of 2024.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among pilgrims during the Hajj season from June 25 to July 30, 2024. The data were randomly collected from departures at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Out of the 1183 pilgrims, 47.5% were male (n=562). The mean age was 54.98±13.96. Risky behaviors were common among pilgrims: 26.9% (n = 318) did not use umbrellas in direct sunlight, and 49.6% preferred walking over using transportation. Additionally, 51.7% did not take prescribed medication, and 59.9% did not seek urgent care for severe symptoms. The mean risk-taking behavior score was 3.24±1.05, with 36.6% of pilgrims exhibiting high-risk behavior and 63.4% exhibiting low-risk behavior. Significant associations were found between risk behavior and education (χ² = 96.502, p < 0.001), nationality (χ² = 69.681, p < 0.001), and certain health conditions (asthma, hearing and vision impairment, and heart disease). Multiple linear regression identified gender (B=0.218, SE=0.059, CI=0.102 to 0.334, p<0.001), education (B=-0.044, SE=0.019, CI=-0.082 to -0.006, p=0.023), nationality (B=-0.168, SE=0.024, CI=-0.215 to -0.122, p<0.001), presence of vision impairment (B=-3.177, SE=1.429, CI=-5.981 to -0.372, p=0.026), and heart disease (B=2.118, SE=1.013, CI=0.130 to 4.106, p=0.037) as predictors of risky behavior (p<0.001).

Minor risk behaviors among pilgrims can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and logistical challenges. Guidance promoting healthy practices before and during the pilgrimage is essential to mitigate these risks and reduce adverse outcomes.