RESUMO
Introduction Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common global health issue, yet awareness and knowledge about UTIs among the general population can vary widely. This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding UTIs among Saudi Arabian citizens residing in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi Arabian citizens aged 18 and above residing in Alhassa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences related to UTIs. Data were analyzed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. Results The study included 445 participants, predominantly males, with 279 (62.7%) and a range of educational backgrounds. Approximately 302 (70.1%) of the participants were aware of UTIs. However, misconceptions about the definition of UTI and its risk factors were common. Most participants recognized bacteria as the primary cause of UTIs, with 261 (58.7%) identifying this factor. Symptoms such as painful urination were recognized by 390 participants, which is a significant proportion. When experiencing UTI symptoms, 285 (66.1%) indicated they would go to the hospital. Significant associations were found between awareness, knowledge, and socio-demographic factors. Conclusion This study highlights the need for increased awareness and knowledge about UTIs among Saudi Arabian citizens in Alhassa. Tailored educational interventions are essential to correct misconceptions, promote accurate risk factor awareness, and encourage appropriate management strategies. Public health campaigns can contribute to reducing the burden of UTIs in the community.
RESUMO
Introduction Worldwide, thyroid diseases are among the most prevalent endocrine disorders. According to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH), many thyroid disease cases remain undiagnosed and, as a result, are not treated because the patient has no symptoms or is unaware of them. Hence, this study aims to assess the knowledge about hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism among Saudi Arabia's population. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Saudi adults in five randomly selected regions in Saudi Arabia from December 2022 - January 2023. An Arabic self-administered questionnaire was sent to randomly selected participants via an online link. The questionnaire was composed of four parts: Sociodemographic; knowledge related to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism diseases and their differences; knowledge about the thyroid gland in terms of functions and causes of thyroid dysfunction. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis. Results Out of 996 participants (66.2% women), 70.1% knew the function of the thyroid gland, 66.4% knew that women are more susceptible to thyroid disease, and 49.5% knew the association between thyroid dysfunction and heart disease. Female sex, higher education, and old age were associated with good knowledge, and no differences were evident regarding nationality and residence. The results showed inadequate awareness regarding thyroid diseases in Saudi Arabia, with some parts of this population being very clearly below average. Conclusion Knowledge regarding thyroid disorders was sub-optimal in Saudi Arabia; older women with higher education had the best knowledge. With even larger samples, we recommend that future studies be made to develop clear and decisive public health strategies that can be implemented at once.
