Abstract

Background and Aims:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most common ‘sleep disorders involving episodes of complete or partial collapse of the airway, leading to a decrease in oxygen saturation or arousal from sleep. The main consequences in children involve the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic systems. The objective of this study is to assess the level of awareness of pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) among parents in Majmaah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in Majmaah, Saudi Arabia. The study participants were the male and female population of Majmaah. The data was collected by a pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed awareness regarding the OSA definition, risk factors, associated symptoms, and treatment. The data was analyzed by using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).

Results:
The results of the study show that most of the participants, 169 (61.7%) had moderate knowledge of OSA, 66 (24.2%) had high knowledge, and 38 (13.9%) had low knowledge of OSA.

Conclusion:
This study shows that most parents surveyed were not well-informed about the signs and risk factors of OSA in children. Our study emphasizes the need to educate parents more about pediatric OSA to increase the level of awareness.

Key words: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Awareness, Children, Snoring