In-depth Analysis: Saudi Arabia's MERS-CoV Brochure for Public Health

This report provides an analysis of a brochure developed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia to raise awareness about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The report highlights the significance of MERS-CoV as a public health concern in Saudi Arabia since 2012, detailing its symptoms, transmission, and mortality rates. The analysis focuses on the brochure's effectiveness in promoting health literacy among citizens, emphasizing preventive measures, and educating about the signs and symptoms of the infection. While the brochure is commended for its simplicity and pictorial representation, the report identifies gaps, such as the absence of information on diagnosis, treatment options, and referral pathways for those already infected. The roles of key stakeholders like the Minister of Health and collaborations with organizations such as the WHO are also discussed. The report concludes that the brochure serves as a valuable tool for public education but could be enhanced with additional information to support affected individuals. Desklib offers this report along with a wealth of study resources, including solved assignments and past papers, to support students in their academic pursuits.

Running head: BROCHURE ANALYSIS
BROCHURE ANALYSIS
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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is considered to be one of
the most dreadful viruses that affect the lives of huge number of people every year in the nation
of Saudi Arabia. This is one of the most recent viruses that had been reported in the nation in
2012 and since then, it had spread to several other countries that even include the United States.
Most people who are seen to be infected with this viral respiratory illness suffer from severe
acute respiratory illness and this includes cough, fever as well as shortness of breath and even
threatening situations like death have also been reported (Mackay & Arden, 2017). This infection
has been found to affect anyone that might range from any individuals aged 1 to that of
individuals aged 99. This infection might spread through contact like that of caring for an
affected person or living with the same. The health department of Saudi Arabia had put forward
a wonderful brochure for the citizens which would be analyzed extensively in this assignment.
A report that had been published by world Health organization had stated that between
31st October and 8th December in the year 2017, the National IHR focal Point of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia had found that 18 additional cases of MERS-CoV had been reported. This included
5 deaths. Another new article published by WHO on June 18, 2018 had found that the deadly
infection had already killed about 23 people in the nation n between January 21 and May 31 in
that year (Badawi & Ryoo, 2016). Since the time of its identification in the year 2012, about 790
deaths had been reported. Moreover, the reports have stated that about 2220 cases have been
found all over the world since the year of 2012 with 1844 cases from Saudi Arabia itself. This
disorder has symptoms like fever, cough as well as shortness of breath. Even episodes of
diarrhea, vomiting and nausea along with gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported. Almost
3 out of 10 patients who have reported with the disorder have been found to face death from the
infection (Mo & Fisher, 2016).

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
The ministry of health also called the MOH of Saudi Arabia had developed a wonderful
brochure to help the citizens of the nation to learn about the disorder. This brochure was
developed within the guidelines of the vision 2030 that had the vision of making nation
overcome various dreadful disorders and helping people to live better and healthy lives
(Moh.gov.sa, 2014). The brochure that had been developed had the aim of spreading awareness
about the dreadful infection. It wanted to make the people educated about the steps that they can
take to prevent themselves from developing the infection. In addition, it also comprised of
information that would help individuals in developing knowledge about the signs and symptoms
of the disorder. Studies suggest that good health promotion programs should first aim in
developing the health literacy of the people making people aware and knowledgeable about
various aspects of the disorder (Li et al., 2015).
One of the very important aspects that should be present within any educational tool is
the simplicity level. The level of the information that needs to be incorporated in any health
promotion resources and educational tools need to be such that it aligns with that of the health
literacy level and understanding quotient of the target audience. The brochure that had been
developed MOH is pictorial where huge number of pictures had been utilized to make people
easily understand the information that was needed to be conveyed (Bester et al., 2016). Hence,
the brochure had undertaken a proper approach and would increase the knowledge of the citizens
in ways by which they would become careful as to not get exposed to the infection. The
brochure that had been developed comprises of minimum amount of information and more
pictures. However, the information had been found to be enough for the citizens to be aware
about different important aspects of the infection like “signs and symptoms”, “transmission
modes between people”, “protection measures” and many others.

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
A number of aspects had been found to be missing from the health promotion brochure
which if present would have resulted in development of the quality of the brochure and would
have given more important information to the patient. It has been found that this brochure is
mainly preventive in nature and does not include any information that needs to be included for
individuals who have already acquired the infection (Fried et al., 2016). The brochure quality
would have developed if more important information on “diagnosis methods”, “treatment
options” and that of “referral options” had been incorporated as well. Individuals who identify
their own symptoms would require such information so that he could immediately get healthcare
services and prevent worsening of the condition. If such information would have included, it
would have helped affected individuals as well.
The ministers present within the ministry of health (MOH) of the nation had been the
main stakeholders behind the initiatives. The brochure had been developed after the specialized
scientists who had attended the International Medical Meeting in Riyadh had made it necessary
to the government about the need of education and awareness programs. Dr. Tawfig Fawzan
AlRabia was the minister of Health who had taken the initiative in starting the campaign against
the MERS-CoV (Wager et al., 2017). Under his leadership and strategies of innovation laid
down by him like “Seha” and “ Mawed, this approach was considered to be an useful one to
reduce the prevalence of the disorder. The MOH had been seen to be working alongside with that
of the WHO for discovering more about the different aspects of the pathology of the viral
infection. The MOH had clarified its priorities where during the publication of the brochure, they
had clearly stated that safety of the public remains at the forefront of their priorities. They had
applied the recommendations that had been put forward by the by the different competent
organizations like that of WHO in examining those individuals who are in contact with the

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
patients. However, WHO had not recommended any travel as well as trade restrictions that had
been introduced as the result of the corona virus. Apart from them, many international research
organizations are working in close association with that of WHO to develop a broader
understanding of the origin of the virus as well as their characteristics, features and even
transmission and symptoms. They are of the opinion that once these studies get over, they would
be able to develop a clearer picture of the virus and thereby find out different treatment options
(Moh.gov.sa, 2014).
From the above discussion, it becomes clear that MERS-CoV has become a dreadful viral
infection affecting many people over the nation in Saudi Arabia since its reporting in the year
2012. A wonderful brochure had been developed by Ministry of health (MOH). This had been
developed with aims like developing health literacy levels of the citizens and making them aware
about various aspects of its prevention. However, some important options required for
developing knowledge for people already affected by the disorder is not included in the
brochure. The language is quite simple and the entire brochure is pictorial. These help in making
people understand the content. Stakeholders involved in the development of the brochure had
tried their best. Scientists are still working on treatment options and would be published in
brochures once when all aspects are properly researched.

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
References:
Badawi, A., & Ryoo, S. G. (2016). Prevalence of comorbidities in the Middle East respiratory
syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): a systematic review and meta-
analysis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 49, 129-133.
Bester, N., Di Vito-Smith, M., McGarry, T., Riffkin, M., Kaehler, S., Pilot, R., & Bwire, R.
(2016). The effectiveness of an educational brochure as a risk minimization activity to
communicate important rare adverse events to health-care professionals. Advances in
therapy, 33(2), 167-177.
Fried, T. R., Redding, C. A., Robbins, M. L., Paiva, A. L., O'leary, J. R., & Iannone, L. (2016).
Development of personalized health messages to promote engagement in advance care
planning. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64(2), 359-364.
Li, K., Wohlford-Lenane, C., Perlman, S., Zhao, J., Jewell, A. K., Reznikov, L. R., ... & McCray
Jr, P. B. (2015). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus causes multiple organ
damage and lethal disease in mice transgenic for human dipeptidyl peptidase 4. The
Journal of infectious diseases, 213(5), 712-722.
Mackay, I., & Arden, K. (2017). An opportunistic pathogen afforded ample opportunities:
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Viruses, 9(12), 369.
Mo, Y., & Fisher, D. (2016). A review of treatment modalities for Middle East respiratory
syndrome. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 71(12), 3340-3350.

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS
Moh.gov.sa (2014), Ways of Protection against the Virus, Ministry Of Health, Retrieved from:
https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/CoronaNew/PublicationsAwareness/Brochures/Pages/
PreventionOfCoronavirus.aspx
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: a practical
approach for health care management. John Wiley & Sons.

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BROCHURE ANALYSIS