Public Awareness and Perceptions of Congenital Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Fahad S Alshehri,1,2 Ahmed M Ashour,1,2 Nasser M Alorfi1 1Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh, 11614, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Fahad S Alshehri, Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the public awareness, knowledge, and perception of congenital disabilities in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on identifying demographic factors that influence these perceptions.Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 1007 participants across various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire covered demographic information, knowledge of congenital disabilities, awareness of genetic and pharmacological risk factors, and engagement in preventive practices. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and general linear modeling to understand the impact of demographic variables on awareness and preventive behaviors.Results: The study showed moderate public awareness and knowledge about congenital disabilities, with 49.6% of respondents acknowledging awareness and only 8.3% demonstrating excellent understanding. Perceived risks associated with genetic and environmental factors were recognized by over half of the participants. The awareness did not consistently translate into engagement in preventive practices, which remained suboptimal across the population. Demographic factors such as age and having children significantly influenced both risk perception and engagement in preventive behaviors.Conclusion: Despite moderate levels of awareness, there remains a significant gap in comprehensive knowledge and active engagement in preventive practices against congenital disabilities in Saudi Arabia. The findings suggest the need for targeted educational programs and public health initiatives to enhance understanding and proactive management of risk factors associated with congenital disabilities. These efforts should particularly focus on younger populations and those without children, where risk perception and engagement were lower.Keywords: congenital disabilities, public awareness, risk perception, preventive health behaviors, Saudi Arabia