Public Awareness, and Perception towards Chronic Kidney Disease and its Risk Factors in Southern Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Worldwide, CKDs are the 12th cause of death and the 17th cause of disability, respectively. About 10-13% of the general population had one of the chronic kidney diseases counting more than 500 million persons worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment of CKD will play an important role in delaying CKD progression [12]. Aim: The current study aims to determine the prevalence and awareness of CKD among the general population and its determinants in Southern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting all accessible population in Southern Saudi Arabia (including four regions, Aseer region, Albaha region, Najran region, and Jazan region), aged 18 years or more and accepting to participate in the study. Data were collected from participants using an online pre-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the following data: participants' socio-demographic data, participants' awareness, and participants' perception towards CKDs, preventive measures and risk. The questionnaire was uploaded online using social media platforms by the researchers and their friends during the period from 20 March 2021 to 20 June 2021. Results: A total of 1317 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 69 years with a mean age of 34.1 12.9 years old. Exactly 255 (19.4%) reported that they had a family member with CKD and 130 (9.9%) of the study respondents had DM, 98 (7.4%) had hypertension, while 20 (1.5%) complained of CKD. Exactly 93% of the study participants had heard about CKDs and 80.8% correctly defined the diseases as a kidney condition that was unable to filter waste, toxins, and fluids from the body. A total of 84.3% reported that chronic kidney disease progresses to kidney failure and 42.9% agreed that chronic kidney disease may not have any symptoms until advanced. The most reported source of knowledge were social media (56%), followed by mass media (22.3%), work (22.1%), books (20.3%), health education campaigns (15.8%), and others (31%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study revealed that public awareness in Southern region of Saudi Arabia about CKD and its risk factors is low in contrast to their perception towards the disease and its associated risk. Having information from scientific sources such as books, health education campaigns or study was associated with high awareness level.