Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted REIMAGINING THE ORIENT: REVISITING THE ONTOLOGICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST IN POST 9/11 AMERICAN LITERATURE(Morgan State University, 2024-11-17) Aljuaid, Sara Saleh; Newson-Horst, AdeleAfter the attacks on September 11, 2001, the Arab and Middle Eastern American communities gained a new social status as hypervisible and hyphenated citizens. Sensationalized stories about the Middle East as a terrorism and violence hub prevail in American television. Hollywood broadcasts films and T.V. shows that exhibit stereotypical representations of the Middle East and Muslim women, mirroring the Orientalist legacy in the colonies dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Before 9/11, the American perception of the Middle East was inherited from the European fascination and romanticization of the Orient, causing to reproduce Orientalism aesthetics to contribute to the proliferation of capitalism and the amplification of consumerist culture in America. Since the attacks, a new rhetoric has emerged pertaining to the portrayals of Muslim women in primetime American T.V. The optics of Muslim women as exotic, hypersexualized, and oppressed have been broadcasted to provoke sentiments of sympathy and fear. The dehumanization of the Middle East by adopting the rhetoric of Muslim women’s victimhood has been utilized as a soft weapon to promote the War on Terror and the US expansionist projects in the Middle East. Arab American literature post-9/11 attempts to demystify the vagueness of conflicting identities and the emergence of discourse that focuses on the depiction of Muslim women. Arab American fiction authors internalize the Orientalist discourse, implement the Arabesque narration style, and reproduce dichotomies to create subdivisions within the Orient to appeal to Western sensibilities and to mediate finding common ground with the dominant culture.24 0Item Restricted Exploring the Influence of cultural sensitivity and Localisation on Luxury Consumption in the Middle East (GCC)(Southampton university, 2024) Alshmali, Lobna; Montgomery, BruceThis study explores the influence of local culture and religious beliefs on consumer behavior, attitudes, and perceptions toward luxury brands in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. It aims to provide insights into how luxury brands can effectively implement localization strategies to resonate with GCC consumers. Drawing on Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, the research investigates the interplay between cultural factors, such as social status, religious beliefs, and community values, and luxury brand consumption in the GCC. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through structured online surveys targeting luxury consumers across the GCC. The findings reveal that cultural relevance and religious sensitivity are paramount in shaping GCC consumers' preferences and loyalty towards luxury brands. A significant majority of respondents highlighted the importance of aligning luxury brands with local cultural values and religious beliefs, indicating that such alignment significantly impacts their purchasing decisions and brand loyalty. The study also finds that effective localization strategies, including engagement with local events and adaptation of products to reflect local cultural symbols, can greatly enhance consumer perceptions and loyalty. These results underscore the need for luxury brands to balance global appeal with local relevance to succeed in the GCC market. By integrating cultural values, traditions, and religious practices into their branding and marketing efforts, luxury brands can foster deeper connections with GCC consumers, ensuring long-term brand loyalty and market success.24 0Item Restricted Knowledge and Acceptability of HPV Vaccination in Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review(University College London, 2024) Aboalaz, Amirah; Sonnenberg, PamBackground: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant cause of cervical cancer and may cause other cancers, including anal and penile cancers. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, the level of knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccination varies widely across different regions. This systematic review focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) to evaluate the current state of awareness and vaccine acceptability. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with a comprehensive search across Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published between January 1, 2008, and March 30, 2024. Inclusion criteria were cross-sectional studies conducted in the EMR that included questions on HPV awareness, vaccine awareness, the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and vaccine acceptability. Studies were assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Results: A total of 815 studies were identified and after screening and quality appraisal, a total of 36 studies from 14 countries in the EMR were included. The review revealed low levels of awareness about HPV and its vaccine, with median awareness levels at 35.05% for HPV infection and 31.8% for the HPV vaccine. The median acceptability level for the HPV vaccine was higher, at 54.05%. Knowledge about HPV was found to be correlated with higher vaccine acceptability. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to improve HPV vaccination knowledge and acceptability in the EMR. Strategies may include robust educational campaigns, integration of HPV education into school curricula, community engagement, and training of healthcare providers. Policy interventions to make the vaccine more accessible and affordable are also crucial. Addressing these challenges through comprehensive and multi-faceted approaches can significantly enhance vaccine uptake and reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases in the region.21 0Item Restricted The Use Of Cyber Media In Hybrid Warfare: Narrative Stories From The Front Lines; Proposing A New Gatekeeping Theory(University of North Dakota, 2023-01) Almalki, Hussain; Kalbfleisch, PamelaThis study used a qualitative narrative approach to investigate the experiences of journalists operating in the context of hybrid warfare across several global regions. The objective of this study is to ascertain the many problems and hazards encountered by numerous journalists who are subjected to pursuit, censorship, harassment, abduction, incarceration, or fatality daily. Furthermore, the objective of this study is to comprehend the ethical and individual incentives that have driven journalists to venture into and remain in regions of violence. Lastly, this study aims to comprehend the utilization of cyber media by journalists in reporting on instances of violence and sad narratives experienced by numerous individuals. This study presents SelfGatekeeping Theory as a new model that builds upon Gatekeeping Theory to comprehensively analyze the obstacles and complexities associated with the primary theory within the context of the cyber-media era. The present study proposes a novel theoretical framework that is derived from the comprehensive analysis of data gathered in response to research questions one, two, and three. This framework posits that people, in the absence of external influences, possess exclusive agencies in determining the dissemination or withholding of information and news from others. Furthermore, the research employs Fisher's narrative paradigm as the theoretical framework for this study, and a selection of public materials produced by journalists are subjected to analysis.25 0Item Restricted Effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention interventions in the Middle East. A systematic review(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-28) Alsaadi, Ghadeer; Papadaki, AngelikiIntroduction Childhood obesity is considered a critical health concern in the Middle East due to its escalating prevalence and adverse impact on the community. To address this epidemic, this review aims to assess the effectiveness of school-based interventions conducted in the Middle East on obesity- related outcomes, physical activity levels, and dietary habits and evaluate the interventions’ cost-effectiveness analyses where data are available. Methods This systematic review conducted an electronic comprehensive search on the 2nd of June, 2023, using the databases PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science. School-based interventions, both single and multi-component, utilising a randomised control trial study design, implemented among primary school-aged children or adolescents aged 4-19 years old, assessing (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, physical activity levels, or dietary habits) as the intervention’s targeted outcomes, and conducted in the Middle East were included in this review. Results Seven RCTs were examined in this review, of which five had dietary and physical activity components; one was a dietary intervention, and the last was a physical activity intervention. All assessed RCTs effectively reported at least one positive finding of the school-based intervention on the targeted outcomes. Post- intervention between-group differences were found in the likelihood of changing to normal weight status, improved nutritional quality, increased physical activity levels, and reduced weight. Additionally, intervention groups reported physical activity levels increase, dietary habits improvement, a reduction in the likelihood of being overweight or obese, a reduction in BMI Z-score, and a reduction in waist circumference. Post-intervention self-efficacy and nutritional knowledge increased in the intervention groups (p<0.001), which served as potential mediators. Conclusion Overall, findings from this review support the promising effects of school-based interventions on improving obesity-related outcomes, physical activity levels, and dietary habits. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the findings while measuring the intervention’s cost-effectiveness analysis.17 0Item Restricted The Relationship Between Stigma and Level of Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Within The Saudi Culture(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-30) Jambi, Amnah; Butcher, Howard KarlThere are two types of stigmas: self-stigma and public stigma. The focus of this dissertation was public stigma. The public stigma encountered by persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) contributes to the isolation of families due to the effort made by AD caregivers to adjust to social challenges (Abojabel & Warner, 2019). According to the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association (2022), there are 130 thousand documented cases of AD, which comprised 9% of the aged population. The severity of stigmas can vary across cultures because stigmas of disease are connected to cultural norms (Corrigan, 2014). Most studies conducted in Saudi Arabia have assessed public stigma regarding mental illnesses, but no study has been found regarding public stigma within the AD scope. Population-based approaches that attempt to clarify stigma level prevalence in representative samples are important to develop methods to address these disparities and ensure equitable access to health care within the population's cultural context. The aim of this study was to 1) identify the relationship between public stigma and the level of AD knowledge among the Saudi population and 2) identify the potential factors that were associated with public stigma and AD knowledge levels among Saudi community members, within the context of a caring science perspective using critical caring theory and specific-situation theory. A non-experimental, correlational descriptive, and cross-sectional design was used for this study. The method of collecting data was an online survey method (Qualtrics) using the Basic Knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease (BKAD) to measure knowledge (Wiese, et al., 2017, 2019), and an adapted version of the Attribution Questionnaire AQ-9 to measure public stigma (Kim et al., 2021; Werner et al., 2017). Data analysis was performed via SPSS version 29. A total of (N = 150) participants were recruited in a span of three months. Data analysis revealed: 1) a significant correlation (r = -.20, p = .016) between AD knowledge and public stigma level, 2) significant factors associated with public stigma level were gender (B = 1.89, t = 2.51, p = .013), an education level (B = -2.69, t = -3.42, p < .001); and experience as an AD caregiver professionally (B = 2.69, t = 2.30, p = .023), 3) Factors significantly associated with AD knowledge level were the a) age group 18- 24 years old (B = 2.78, t = 2.27, p = .025), b) occupation in the non-medical profession category (B = -1.77, t = -2.04, p = .043), and c) education level (B = 2.27, t = 2.75, p = .007). Stigma can vary based on various contextual factors, including cultural influences, in which further studies are needed to better understand the concept in versatile cultures. The findings provided valuable insights into the patterns and significance of relationships between public stigma, AD knowledge, and factors associated with stigma and AD knowledge.40 0