EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND PERCEPTIONS OF ALOPECIA AMONG ADULT PUBLIC POPULATION IN BAHRAIN

Background: Alopecia significantly impacts psychosocial well-being, yet public awareness in the Gulf region remains under-researched, contributing to stigma and delayed care. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of alopecia among the adult public in Bahrain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the autoimmune disease awareness campaign in Bahrain (February 2025) using a self-administered questionnaire. Adult participants (n =) from Gulf Cooperation Council countries were included. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: Nearly all participants (98.5%) were aware of alopecia. Specialist doctors were the most common information source (85.3%). Genetic factors were identified as the primary cause (79.3%), while autoimmune causes were less known (58.7%). Although 48.3% did not perceive alopecia as serious, 84.6% emphasized the need for mental health support, and 98.3% endorsed more awareness campaigns. Knowledge of alopecia types was inversely associated with education level (χ²=8.329, p=0.016). Awareness of psychological impact was higher in women (87.5%) than in men (80.8%) (χ²=3.998, p=0.031) and varied by nationality (χ²=10.064, p=0.039). Conclusions: While public awareness of alopecia is high in the GCC, lack of in-depth knowledge persists, particularly regarding autoimmune etiology. There is a strong public demand for educational campaigns and psychological support.