Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abstract Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to an increased risk of health and social problems throughout life. Studies on gender differences from developing countries are scarce. In this paper, we will examine gender variations in the types of reported ACEs and gender-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-017-0588-9 |
| _version_ | 1828463093618835456 |
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| author | Maha Almuneef Nathalie ElChoueiry Hassan N. Saleheen Majid Al-Eissa |
| author_facet | Maha Almuneef Nathalie ElChoueiry Hassan N. Saleheen Majid Al-Eissa |
| author_sort | Maha Almuneef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to an increased risk of health and social problems throughout life. Studies on gender differences from developing countries are scarce. In this paper, we will examine gender variations in the types of reported ACEs and gender-specific relationships between cumulative ACEs and physical and mental health, and Risky Health Behaviors (RHB) in adulthood in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods A cross sectional national study was conducted in all of the 13 regions in KSA in 2013 using the ACE- International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationship between 4 + ACEs and physical, mental health and RHBs for both men and women separately after adjusting for age, education, marital status and current employment. Results The total number of participants was 10,156 and women comprised 48% of the sample. The majority of respondents (80%) reported at least one ACE. Women had higher percentages of < =2 ACEs (65% vs 55%; p <0.05) while men were more likely to have 4+ ACEs (33% vs 25%; p < 0.05). When compared to participants with 0 ACE, men who reported 4+ ACEs were associated with the highest likelihood of using drugs (OR = 9.7; 95% CI: 6.4-14.5) and drinking alcohol (OR = 9.2; 95% CI: 6.3-13.6). On the other hand, women who experienced 4+ ACEs were associated with the highest likelihood of depression (OR = 7.0; 95% CI: 5.2-9.4), anxiety (OR = 6.4; 95% CI: 5.0-8.2) and other mental illnesses (OR = 7.4; 95% CI: 5.2-10.6). As for chronic diseases, abused men and women in childhood showed similarly a twofold increased risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and obesity when compared to non-abused participants. Conclusion Findings highlight the need to consider gender specific differences in the development of preventive strategies to address ACEs in KSA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:47:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c905cf5551b640b3b075c050313556fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:47:42Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c905cf5551b640b3b075c050313556fd2022-12-22T01:23:23ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762017-05-011611910.1186/s12939-017-0588-9Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaMaha Almuneef0Nathalie ElChoueiry1Hassan N. Saleheen2Majid Al-Eissa3King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard - Health AffairsKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard - Health AffairsKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard - Health AffairsKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard - Health AffairsAbstract Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to an increased risk of health and social problems throughout life. Studies on gender differences from developing countries are scarce. In this paper, we will examine gender variations in the types of reported ACEs and gender-specific relationships between cumulative ACEs and physical and mental health, and Risky Health Behaviors (RHB) in adulthood in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods A cross sectional national study was conducted in all of the 13 regions in KSA in 2013 using the ACE- International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationship between 4 + ACEs and physical, mental health and RHBs for both men and women separately after adjusting for age, education, marital status and current employment. Results The total number of participants was 10,156 and women comprised 48% of the sample. The majority of respondents (80%) reported at least one ACE. Women had higher percentages of < =2 ACEs (65% vs 55%; p <0.05) while men were more likely to have 4+ ACEs (33% vs 25%; p < 0.05). When compared to participants with 0 ACE, men who reported 4+ ACEs were associated with the highest likelihood of using drugs (OR = 9.7; 95% CI: 6.4-14.5) and drinking alcohol (OR = 9.2; 95% CI: 6.3-13.6). On the other hand, women who experienced 4+ ACEs were associated with the highest likelihood of depression (OR = 7.0; 95% CI: 5.2-9.4), anxiety (OR = 6.4; 95% CI: 5.0-8.2) and other mental illnesses (OR = 7.4; 95% CI: 5.2-10.6). As for chronic diseases, abused men and women in childhood showed similarly a twofold increased risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and obesity when compared to non-abused participants. Conclusion Findings highlight the need to consider gender specific differences in the development of preventive strategies to address ACEs in KSA.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-017-0588-9Adverse childhood experiencesKingdom of Saudi ArabiaMental health problemsChronic illnessHealth risk behaviors |
| spellingShingle | Maha Almuneef Nathalie ElChoueiry Hassan N. Saleheen Majid Al-Eissa Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia International Journal for Equity in Health Adverse childhood experiences Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mental health problems Chronic illness Health risk behaviors |
| title | Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | gender based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health findings from a national study in the kingdom of saudi arabia |
| topic | Adverse childhood experiences Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mental health problems Chronic illness Health risk behaviors |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-017-0588-9 |
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