How the health beliefs of parents influence the decision to have their child receive an eye exam in Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to assess the factors influencing parental attitudes and behaviors regarding children's eye health and eye examinations in Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents and nonparents (such as siblings, uncles, and aunts) residing in SA. Data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire that captured sociodemographic information, previous history of child eye examinations, and responses to a 30-item scale assessing attitudes and behaviors toward pediatric eye health and screening. Results: Among the 444 participants, 32.2% were aged between 41 and 50 years, and 63.3% were mothers. A total of 68% reported a previous history of child eye examinations. Most participants (75.2%) had a neutral attitude toward pediatric eye health and examination, while 20.5% had a positive attitude and 4.3% had a negative attitude (mean score: 61 ± 8.62). More favorable attitudes were significantly associated with lower economic status, being nonparent, and having a history of child eye examinations. No significant associations were observed between attitude scores and age, nationality, education, or region of residence (p > 0.05). Conclusion: There was a generally optimistic attitude toward child eye health and examinations among the population studied. However, parents with higher income levels demonstrated less favorable behavior regarding compliance with pediatric eye screening. Further research is needed to identify the key factors that most influence parental attitudes toward seeking eye care for children.