Volume 26, Issue 124, June 2022

Assessment of knowledge and attitude of gestational diabetes mellitus among Saudi Women in Al Ahsa

Hussain A Al Ghadeer^1♦, Abdullah I Albeladi², Kholoud H Algurini³, Mohammed Albarqi⁴, Nihad A Al kishi³, Hassan H Alhamoud², Murtadah M Albusaeed¹, Hawra J Al Abbad¹, Hussain R Alshaban⁵, Abdulwahab M Al Ferdan⁶, Mohammed A Al Salman⁷, Feras A Alamir⁶, Manaf M Almomen⁸, Hawra I Alajwad⁹, Ahmed Y Algafle⁵

¹Paediatric department, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
²Internal medicine department, King fahad hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
³Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
⁴Family medicine department, King Faisal University, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
⁵College of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
⁶Abqiaq general Hospital, Abqiaq, Saudi Arabia
⁷Imam Abdurhamn bin Faisal University, Alkhober, Saudi Arabia
⁸Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
⁹College of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain

^♦Corresponding author
Paediatric department, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) definedas a temporarily type of diabetes induced by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction during pregnancy, GDM can cause major complications, but it can also be avoided and treated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in Alahsa, Saudi Arabia during the period from March 5 to March 18, 2021, using a validated questionnaire with 17 items concerning GDM awareness and understanding. Participants were categorised into low knowledge (10/17) and fair/good knowledge (11/17) based on their replies. Results: The study included 464 adult females aged 24.9-11.6 years from the Alahsa region. According to our survey, nearly one in every five females (22.8 percent) had strong understanding of GDM, which is considered as low percentage. Also our findings shows that more than three-quarters of the study females are aware of the risks of untreated GDM, and two-thirds (69%) are aware that GDM. Furthermore, females' awareness of GDM complication was reasonably good. Conclusion: Our study declares that there is a significant frequency of low awareness, knowledge, and awareness about GDM on Alahsa region.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, awareness, risk factors, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms232e2297

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i124/ms232e2297

Published: 20 June 2022