Volume 26, Issue 123, May 2022

Assessment of knowledge and perception towards vitiligo in Northern Saudi Arabia

Fatmah Fahad Alreshidi¹, Ebtehaj Saud Almughais¹, Dalal Alayed², Rasha Mohammed Alarfaj², Samiah Ahmed Almehmadi^3,4, Abrar Humoud Fahad Al Lafi⁴, Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed^5♦

¹Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
²Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
³Consultant Family Medicine, Lifestyle medicine specialist, Ministry of Health, Hail Health cluster, Hail, Saudi Arabia
⁴Family medicine registrar -security force hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
⁵Department of Histopathology and Cytology, FMLS, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Histopathology and Cytology, FMLS, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a prevalence of vitiligo in Saudi Arabia, with low reports regarding the burden of the disease. Thus, the current study aimed to assess the knowledge and perception of vitiligo in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 1004 volunteers’ participants living in the city of Hai'l, Northern Saudi Arabia. Contributors were selected randomly regardless of age or sex. A purposeful questionnaire was designed and used to collect data regarding vitiligo. Results: About 77% claimed to know what vitiligo is. The Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for Knowledge was OR (95%CI) = 1.193 (1.032- 1.378), P-value = 0.007. The most common source of knowledge was the internet, followed by physicians and friends, constituting 25%, 23%, and 13%, respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge and perception of vitiligo are averages among the Saudi community. Distribution of educational and awareness materials through internet and social media can potentially reduce negative attitudes toward vitiligo patients and improves their life quality.

Keywords: vitiligo, melanocytes, skin, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms198e2280

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i123/ms198e2280

Published: 30 May 2022