Background: Awareness of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) symptoms and complications is essential for early treatment and to prevent further serious complications of it.
Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of PCOS, clinical presentation, risk factors and complications among Saudi females population, to identify factors that influenced the awareness, and to improve health care and lower the treatment cost.
Materials and Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, in 2016, about PCOS awareness, using paper and soft copy questionnaire. A 40 items research questionnaire specifically targeted to a woman of reproductive age (aged 18-50), a pilot study was carried before the large scale one. The questionnaire included personal data, awareness and method of knowledge of PCOS, clinical presentation, risks, and complications. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS software.
Results: Total number of participants was 2000. Majority of the studied population 96.4% were from urban back ground. 86.4%, 72.9%, and 84% were from the central region of KSA, University graduates, and Non-health colleges graduates, respectively. 41% and 49.6% were single and married. The level of awareness of PCOS in this study was 56.7%. Among them 15.3% were PCOS patient, 21.3% have known about PCOS via internet, then patient, doctors, and books, respectively. Among aware females, the majority were aware of symptoms pertaining to endocrine disorders, contraception intake, and a healthy diet. In contrast, most of them were unaware of the relationship between it and occurrence of chronic diseases, early puberty, heart diseases, and inheritance. The level of awareness of PCOS was significantly related to higher educational levels (P = 0.000), and women with health college qualifications (P = 0.000). Area of residence, marital status, and diabetes mellitus had no major impact.
Conclusion: There is a high level of awareness of PCOS among Saudi women. The internet was the prevalent source. Educational level and to graduates of health colleges scored higher. Awareness of symptoms was higher than of complications.
Key words: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; Women Health; Gynecology
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