An assessment of migraine knowledge and associated factors among the Jordanian public

Migraine is a prevalent, disabling neurological disorder with substantial socioeconomic burden, yet it remains under-recognized and underdiagnosed globally, particularly in the Arab world, due to limited public awareness of its clinical features and management. This study aimed to assess public migraine knowledge, perceptions, prevalence and their sociodemographic correlates among the general population in Jordan. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted between February and June 2026 among adult Jordanians. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, perceptions of migraine causes, complications, treatment, and general knowledge. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, perceptions, and knowledge scores. Associations with knowledge scores were examined using independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, while chi-square tests assessed factors associated with migraine diagnosis. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression identified sociodemographic variables independently associated with knowledge scores and migraine diagnosis, respectively. Among a total of 463 participants with a mean age of 31.4 ± 12.6 years, 15.1% reported a physician-diagnosed migraine and 34.3% reported a family history. Many participants were unaware of migraine causes (37.6%), complications (30.9%), or treatment (27.4%), and most correctly recognised that young individuals are predominantly affected (86%). The mean knowledge score was 8.34 ± 1.96 out of 12. Female gender, personal history of migraine, and a medical educational background were independently associated with higher knowledge scores (all p < 0.05), together explaining 13.1% of the variance in scores. Female gender (odds ratio 3.08, 95% CI 1.46–6.50) and family history of migraine (odds ratio 4.58, 95% CI 2.61–8.03) were independently associated with migraine diagnosis. Migraine prevalence in Jordan appeared consistent with global estimates, though lower than most regional reports. Public knowledge of migraine in Jordan was moderate, scoring higher than some regional levels, yet notable gaps persisted in awareness of its causes, complications, and treatment. Knowledge was shaped mainly by personal and educational exposure rather than demographic factors. At the same time, female gender and family history were strongly associated with migraine diagnosis, highlighting the need for targeted public health education to improve migraine literacy and reduce diagnostic delay in Jordan and similar settings, and to support the good health and well-being of patients.