Effective sustained health education and health promotion interventions coupled with a comprehensive strategy composed of service delivery systems are required to achieve a good health in any community. The objectives of the study were to identify the main health education messages, with their sources, imparted to Omani hajjis performing Hajj during 1433 H, to assess the adherence of Omani hajjis to health education advices on major health hazards during hajj 1433 H.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among hajjis while staying in Mina using a self-administered questionnaire. Multistage random cluster sampling technique was used based on camp mapping to identify the participants.
Results
A total of 397 Hajjis were included in this study, out of them 69.0% were male, most of the hajjis 45.6% were in the age group 30-44 years with mean age and standard deviation of 37.87 ± 10.93 years. 65.7% of Hajjis received health education about health hazards in hajj in Oman, 53.9% received it during the hajj journey, and 43.1% received it in Saudi Arabia. Main method used for health education in Oman and during the hajj journey was other person's advice (42.9% and 54.7% respectively) and in Saudi Arabia it was lectures (56.1%). About 67.0% of Omani hajjis received educational message about the importance of meningitis and influenza vaccine (67.6% out of them received meningitis vaccine and 65.2% influenza vaccine), 33.0% of Hajjis received educational message about the precaution that should be taken during shaving head hair (22.7% of them used razor blade and shared it with other or do not know), 16.9% of Hajjis received educational message about the precaution for food safety (49.0% out of them never kept cooked food more than 2 hours), 61.2% of Hajjis received educational message about avoidance of exposure to heat or dust (57.8% out of them used an umbrella, 74.8% used facemask), and finally about 64.2% of Hajjis received education message about the avoiding crowded places especially over Jamarat (61.1% out of them threw pebbles/stones during day time).
Conclusion
This study showed that there was inadequate advice regarding Hajj-related health hazards among Omani Hajjis. Different methods of communication were used to deliver health education to Hajjis with varying degrees. Despite the significant effect of health education messages on some practices of hajjis during the hajj journey, high- risk behaviors were still prevalent especially for not receiving vaccinations in the correct time, not receiving influenza vaccination, not drinking enough amounts of water and not using umbrellas.