The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 12341, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 31;18(7):3607. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073607.
The Hajj mass gathering annually attracts over two million Muslim pilgrims worldwide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We aimed to establish demographics and health profiles for the South African pilgrims performing the 2017 Hajj. This is a longitudinal survey-based study conducted on 1138 adult South African pilgrims in two phases (during and post-Hajj). Data on demographics, vaccination status, underlying health conditions, pre-Hajj training, health promotion, travel history, and health issues during and post-Hajj were collected using pre-designed questionnaires. Participants had a mean age of 49.2 years (SD = 13.3; range 18-81), with a male: female ratio of 1.2:1. The majority of pilgrims were married (88.2%), of Indian/Asian background (73%), and literate (>99%). Nearly all pilgrims were vaccinated against meningococcal disease and yellow fever, but only 23.7% were vaccinated against Influenza. Hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels were the most common underlying health conditions reported by 22.6%, 13.2%, and 11.5% of pilgrims, respectively. One month after return to South Africa, nearly 65% of pilgrims reported illness during Hajj, while 40% reported falling ill post event upon return to South Africa. Nevertheless, only a few were admitted to hospitals (12 during Hajj and 15 post-Hajj). Among ill pilgrims, respiratory symptoms were the most commonly experienced symptoms during (70.2%) and post-Hajj (82.2%). Other symptoms such as walking-related symptoms include symptoms directly related or mainly caused by walking (e.g., leg pain, sore feet, blisters on the feet), dehydration, and gastrointestinal tract symptoms reported during Hajj. Medication to treat respiratory symptoms and antibiotics were the most commonly used medications during and post-Hajj. Having an underlying health condition was an independent predictor of falling ill during or post Hajj. Our study indicates that a sizable proportion of South African pilgrims are elderly with underlying health conditions and most contract respiratory tract infections during and post Hajj. Our study highlights the need for systematic collection of prospective pilgrims' demographics and health data and more attention to post-Hajj health follow-ups of pilgrims.
麦加朝圣每年吸引全球超过 200 万穆斯林朝圣者前往沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）。我们旨在为 2017 年朝觐的南非朝圣者建立人口统计学和健康概况。这是一项基于纵向调查的研究，对 1138 名成年南非朝圣者进行了两个阶段（朝觐期间和之后）的研究。使用预先设计的问卷收集人口统计学、疫苗接种状况、潜在健康状况、朝觐前培训、健康促进、旅行史以及朝觐期间和之后的健康问题等数据。参与者的平均年龄为 49.2 岁（SD=13.3；范围 18-81），男女比例为 1.2:1。大多数朝圣者已婚（88.2%），来自印度/亚洲背景（73%），受过教育（>99%）。几乎所有朝圣者都接种了脑膜炎球菌病和黄热病疫苗，但只有 23.7%的人接种了流感疫苗。高血压、糖尿病和胆固醇水平升高是报告的最常见潜在健康状况，分别占朝圣者的 22.6%、13.2%和 11.5%。返回南非一个月后，近 65%的朝圣者报告在朝觐期间生病，而 40%的人报告在返回南非后生病。然而，只有少数人住院（朝觐期间 12 人，朝觐后 15 人）。在生病的朝圣者中，呼吸道症状是朝觐期间（70.2%）和朝觐后（82.2%）最常见的症状。其他症状如与行走相关的症状包括与行走直接相关或主要由行走引起的症状（例如，腿部疼痛、脚部酸痛、脚部水疱）、脱水和胃肠道症状，这些症状在朝觐期间报告。在朝觐期间和之后，用于治疗呼吸道症状的药物和抗生素是最常用的药物。有潜在健康状况是在朝觐期间或之后生病的独立预测因素。我们的研究表明，相当一部分南非朝圣者年龄较大，有潜在的健康状况，并且大多数人在朝觐期间和之后感染呼吸道感染。我们的研究强调需要系统收集前瞻性朝圣者的人口统计学和健康数据，并更加关注朝圣者的朝觐后健康随访。
