Association between Health Practice Intervention and Reduce the Respiratory Infection - Research Paper Example

The reports were a limiting factor since the conventional laboratory testing methods necessary to file the influenza illness instances were missing. This was caused by the difficulties in ascertaining the microbiologic capability and the endeavor to culture the pilgrims over the Hajj rituals.

Mustafa et al (2000) analyzed the rates and the views on the effectiveness of vaccinations against influenza. This study was conducted on pilgrims from Malaysia with a patient case sample of 820 of which 84% of them had been given antibiotics. A sample population was recruited from five randomly picked hotels considering the gender and age of the respondents.  A control sample population of 600 persons was also employed. Considering a large number of pilgrims, approximately 2 million that attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, this sample population is very small to present reliable results as the true cases noted during Hajj. Remarkably, the SPSS test method was applied in the analysis of the results with 77% indicating an effective influenza vaccination with a confidence level of 95%. Deris et al (2010), postulate that a study of 387 pilgrims with a mean age of 50.4 years was conducted in Malaysia to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the Malaysian pilgrims. The use of survey forms was used to perform the cross-sectional study to the pilgrims before they left back for their country from Hajj with results indicating 3.6% had not suffered from the illness.

Significantly, Choudhry et al (2006) explored a study to establish the incidences of pilgrims from Riyadh contacting acute respiratory infections. This study was carried out in the Riyadh primary health care institutions were the pilgrims were registered. A list of 72 primary health centers in Riyadh was sourced from the Directorate of Health and subdivided into five administrative units. A sample population of 1027 pilgrims was considered under which a paltry 39.8% indicated signs of acute respiratory infections. According to this study, diabetic people who had a longer stay in Namera mosque during the Hajj registered a higher risk of suffering from respiratory diseases.

In Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Smith et al (2002) performed a seroepidemiological study to establish the pertussis incidence among the pilgrims. A study sample of 358 adults was considered with 1.4% being diagnosed with the prolonged cough. This study suffered a limitation with the population sample discriminating against age though even the children under 18 years attend Hajji. This gave considerably underestimated statics on the Respiratory disease infections among the Singapore pilgrims.

From a population of 374 pilgrims originating from Thailand, Phrom (2005) conducted a study to determine the best model for the prevention, control, and regulation of the meningococcal disease risks posed by the Pilgrims returning from Hajj. Moreover, the study aimed at finding the numerical strength of the carriers of meningococcal infections and the general health issues that occurred over the Hajj period. In the collection of data structured questionnaire was employed leading to a limitation n the accuracy of the obtained results. This is by the fact that many respondents are generally unwilling to disclose their health information and hence provide little or fail to respond at all.

To evaluate the efficacy of the influenza vaccine against acute respiratory diseases in Tehran, Iran, Razavi et al (2004) carried out two comparable cohort types of research. A sample population of 51100 pilgrims who had taken part in the 2003 and 2004 Hajj festivities was considered. A throat swab for the viral culture was used to screen 500 pilgrims who attended the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Notably, a “1- odd’s ratio” method was used which allowed for the comparison of the results of both years. The year 2003 provided a highly efficient rate of 51% than the year 2004 which was less efficient. Moreover, Razavy et al (2003) conducted a study on 32370 pilgrims from Iran. This study aimed at establishing the incidences of influenza illness which indicated 70% cases of disease attacks among the studied population. Evidently, from the 10.7% who took voluntary vaccination, 56% reported incidences of illness, and 72% was illustrated from those who were unvaccinated.

Rashid et al (2003) conducted a study on 500 pilgrims from different parts of the world who had attended the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca to establish the instances of infections. All these pilgrims had suffered from symptoms of the respiratory tract and a throat swab for the viral culture was used to screen them for respiratory diseases including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Most pilgrims lacked vaccinations cards which made them to self declare their status posing low credibility of the results since most pilgrims are unaware of the existence of the illness. Out of the study population, only 4.7% had taken influenza vaccinations with a 10.8% of the sample suffering from the illness.

In comparing pilgrims from the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, Rashid et al (2007) noted the high incidences of influenza reported in Mecca during the Hajj. This resulted in carrying an evaluation of the underlying factors that influence the vaccination. Immunization rates were carried out in all the domestic pilgrims and those traveling from the United Kingdom. Higher rates were recorded among the UK pilgrims than among the pilgrims from Saudi (Rashid et al 2008).