Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Factors Influencing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Adults in Saudi Arabia

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver disease globally, with an estimated incidence of 47 cases per 1000 people, and a prevalence of 32% among adults, higher in males (40%) than females (26%). The study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and determinants of NAFLD among adults in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia; a total of 264 participants were recruited through nonrandom sampling, and a validated and structured questionnaire was used, logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge and attitude score regarding NAFLD. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of total participants, only 15.2% and 12.9% of participants had good and positive attitudes toward NAFLD. After adjusting of covariates, female participants had a significantly negative attitude compared to males (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.22, P = 0.000), and those earning 10,000–20,000 SR had a significantly negative attitude (AOR 0.17, P = 0.044). All sociodemographic factors were associated with poor knowledge scores, but none of these associations were statistically significant. Conclusion: The study highlights that gender and income are significant factors influencing attitudes and knowledge regarding NAFLD among young adults in the city. Based on these findings, it is recommended to implement targeted educational interventions and awareness campaigns, particularly focusing on improving knowledge and attitudes, especially for those with lower income and female participants.