Theoretical and Practical Awareness of Certain Micronutrient Deficiency Diseases among Rural Women in Gharbia Governorate

Micronutrient deficiency diseases remain a major public health concern, particularly among rural women. This study aimed to assess both theoretical and practical awareness of selected micronutrient deficiency diseases—namely iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia—among rural women in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. It further sought to explore the relationships between key independent variables and awareness levels, to determine the extent to which these variables explain variation in awareness, and to analyze the effect of theoretical awareness on preventive practical awareness. The study was conducted in two districts, where four villages were randomly selected: Delbshan and Kafr Heshad (Kafr El-Zayat), and Katama and Kafr Suleiman (Basion). A proportional random sample of 400 women was selected, and data were collected through structured questionnaires administered via face-to-face interviews from June to August 2025. Findings revealed that more than half of the respondents demonstrated moderate awareness levels, both theoretical (54%) and practical (62%). Age was negatively correlated with both types of awareness, whereas years of education emerged as the most influential factor, showing a strong positive association. Collectively, the independent variables explained 33.4% of the variation in theoretical awareness and 27.7% in practical awareness. Food responsibility and household possessions contributed significantly to explaining these variations. Moreover, theoretical awareness accounted for 38% of the variation in practical preventive awareness of micronutrient deficiency diseases. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted extension and educational programs designed to strengthen both theoretical and practical awareness, thereby empowering rural women to adopt effective preventive practices against micronutrient deficiency diseases.