RIYADH: The rate of babies delivered by Caesarean section in Saudi Arabia is growing alarmingly with the nationwide increase reflecting an upward trend in these cases in recent years.
A cross section of medical experts expressed concerns Saturday over the fact that caesarian delivery cases surged by 67 percent in the country last year.
A similar trend was noticed in the first quarter of 2016 with experts saying that the reasons behind the surge are preventable.
“The main reason is that pregnant women have become lazy; they don’t move and they are not aware of the benefits of walking or exercising during pregnancy,” said Dr. Ahmed Marzouq, a gynecology and obstetrics specialist at the Health Ministry.
He said that women opt for caesarean births due to “laziness”; they do not want to go through the natural birth process. Obesity also plays a major role in childbirth and also contributes to the increase in laziness especially among pregnant women.
According to figures released by the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrinology Society, 70 percent of the Kingdom’s local population is classed as obese.
“All these factors are contributing to the significant increase in the C-section delivery rate in tertiary health care centers,” said Tayyaba L. Al-Harbi, a gynecologist at a local private hospital. Al-Harbi said the importance of exercise should be taught to every prospective mother, especially in a country like Saudi Arabia where physical movement of women is somewhat restricted.
This notion has been further substantiated by a study conducted by the Lancet medical journal, which found that Saudi Arabia’s population is the third most slothful in the world with 68.3 percent of adults failing to do any exercise. “Only in Malta and Swaziland are adults even more inactive than in Saudi Arabia,” said the study, while referring to the need to need to generate awareness about exercise and sports both among men and women.
Similar views were expressed by Layla Abdul Razak, another gynecologist, who said there are health hazards associated with C-section deliveries. “The threat that comes with it should be taken into account since it is medically proven and suggested that it is not suitable for mothers to undergo three or four caesareans because of the complications that come with it.”
Lily Chaerian, an Indian nurse, working at a private hospital for 15 years, said: “Every now and then, deaths are reported during C-sections if the cases are complex.” She said private hospitals have been performing more C-sections than the government hospitals. She, however, noted that the surging trend in caesarian cases is noticed in all Gulf countries, where social and family lifestyles are identical.
Rise in C-section births alarming
Rise in C-section births alarming
Chef serves up a taste of Spain at Ithra Cultural Days in Saudi Arabia
DHAHRAN: Among the attractions of the Ithra Cultural Days: Spain at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), visitors can try a tantalizing selection of Spanish foods — none more renowned than its famous paella.
Arab News spoke with chef Jose Zafra at the event, which runs until Jan. 31, who flew in from Spain to offer a taste of his homeland to the people of Saudi Arabia.
A “master rice cook, paella researcher and promoter,” according to his business card, his logo is even designed around the recognizable cooking pan and the phrase “Pasion por la paella,” or “Passion for paella.”
“That's why the pan is round because people get around and eat all together — to share culture and passion and life,” Zafra told Arab News as foodies lined up behind him, eager to try a plateful.
“It’s not just a food. It’s a link, a connection. Paella is the symbol of unity and sharing. And people now are going to try it — authentic Spanish paella in Saudi Arabia.”
The word “paella” comes from the Latin “patella,” meaning pan.
In Spanish, it refers both to the rice dish itself and the pan in which it is cooked.
Paella was introduced to Spain during Moorish rule. It originated in Valencia, on the country’s eastern coast, as a rural peasant dish that was cooked by farm workers over open fires using local ingredients. Over time, the dish’s popularity spread and other versions evolved, for example featuring seafood and meat.
It is different to Saudi Arabia’s kabsa, a communal dish which similarly uses rice and meat. Kabsa is cooked in a deep pot to ensure the rice stays soft and aromatic from the meaty broth, whereas paella uses a wide, shallow pan to fully absorb flavors evenly, often creating a prized crispy layer at the bottom.
Visitors to Ithra’s Culture Days can enjoy the flavors of Spain made with a sprinkling of local love — true to the origins of the dish.
Find the scoops of Spanish joy near the food truck area and try chicken paella, seafood paella —or both! You will see the signs offering a plate, at SR35 ($9) for chicken and SR40 for seafood, or let your nose lead you there.
Zafra concluded: “The chicken is from here, the seafood is from here — and the passion, well, that is from Spain.”
