Qatar Women Health Information
Reported, January 4, 2012
In Qatar the lifetime average number of children per women is 3 compared with 2 in the UK.
No data are available on contraceptive use in this country.
65% of women aged 5069 years have undergone a breast examination or mammography compared to 75% in the UK and 59% of women aged 2069 years have undergone cervical cancer screening compared to 70% in the UK.
Anaemia
There is a moderate risk of anaemia in people from this country (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women 20-40%). Be alert to this possibility in recently arrived migrants, particularly for women and pre-school children, and test as clinically indicated.
Vitamin D deficiency
Sunlight is the major source of vitamin D and dark skinned individuals or those who for cultural or religious reasons cover their whole bodies when outdoors are at risk of deficiency, as are those whose diets (vegetarian/vegan) do not contain an adequate vitamin D supply.
Iodine deficiency
People from this country may be at risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism due to excessive intake.
This country has an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B. Consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
This country has a considerably higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK. Consider screening for hepatitis C.
There is a risk of typhoid infection in this country.
TB
There is a high incidence of TB in this country (40 499 cases/100,000).
If known to be HIV positive refer to HIV team for further risk assessment and TB screening.
Offer chest X ray to all unless;
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
recent chest X ray
Offer Mantoux test if;
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
normal chest X ray but less than 36 years of age
Offer gamma interferon blood test if;
Mantoux test >6mm (no prior BCG)
Mantoux test >15mm (prior BCG)
Refer to TB services promptly if screening is positive.
Maintain long term vigilance for symptoms of TB even if initial screening is negative.
TB is a notifiable disease.
HIV and sexually transmitted infections
This country has a low rate of HIV.
Test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia.
Take a sexual history and screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards for the management of STIs (BASHH guidelines) and HIV (BHIVA guidelines).
In a high prevalence PCT (=2/1000) all newly registering patients should be offered an HIV test regardless of country of origin (BHIVA guidelines).
In a low prevalence PCT (less than 2/1000) patients in the following groups should be offered an HIV test:
pregnant women
patients presenting with an indicator disease or another STI
men disclosing sexual contact with other men
patients reporting a history of injecting drug use
patients reporting sexual contact with someone at increased risk of HIV infection
Hepatitis B
This country has an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B.
Consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
Babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive should be appropriately immunised and followed-up accordingly.
Hepatitis C
This country has a considerably higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK.
Consider screening for hepatitis C.
Enteric fever
There is a risk of typhoid infection in this country.