Al-Makramani Ali, Shawish Ali M, Albarrati Ayman M, Akkam Mohammed M, Hakami Nouf M, Omar Rawan N, Oraibi Nouf M, Mubaraky Atyaf M, Humedi Anisah M, Sufyani Fuad A, Khodh Alfdl A, Arishi Mohamed A, Bahkali Nawal I, Mannaa Ibrahim A, Ahmed Anas E
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, SAU.
College of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, SAU.
Cureus. 2024 Jul 11;16(7):e64297. doi: 10.7759/cureus.64297. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Background Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) is a common sleep disorder that can cause major health problems if untreated. Parental knowledge and awareness are critical for early detection and management of POSA in children. This study sought to measure parents' and caregivers' knowledge and awareness of pediatric POSA in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, as well as to uncover sociodemographic correlates of knowledge levels. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A structured survey was used to collect data on sociodemographic factors and knowledge of pediatric OSA. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The study included 393 parents and caregivers, 36.4% of whom were in the 18-30 year age group. Most were Saudis (n=385; 98%), and 212 (53.9%) were men. Most parents (n=378; 96.2%) had limited knowledge of pediatric OSA. Significant knowledge gaps were observed in recognizing POSA symptoms, understanding its impact on children's academic performance, and their association with mental health issues. Internet and social networking sites were the most common sources of knowledge about POSA (n=131; 33.33%), followed by knowing someone with OSA (n=103; 26.21%). Parents with more than eight children had a significant association with more knowledge than those without children (adjusted OR = 10.661, 95% CI: 1.367-83.139, p = 0.024). Conclusion The study identified significant gaps in the recognition of POSA symptoms and understanding its impact on their children's academic performance and mental health. Despite their limited knowledge, parents were receptive to early intervention for POSA. The study suggests that parents with more children had better knowledge of POSA, indicating that experiential learning may contribute to their understanding. The study recommends developing and assessing targeted education and awareness programs for parents, healthcare providers, and the public to improve POSA diagnosis, care, and outcomes.
背景 小儿阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（POSA）是一种常见的睡眠障碍，若不治疗可导致严重的健康问题。家长的认知和意识对于儿童POSA的早期发现和管理至关重要。本研究旨在衡量沙特阿拉伯吉赞地区家长和照料者对小儿POSA的认知和意识，并揭示知识水平的社会人口学相关因素。方法 本横断面研究在沙特阿拉伯吉赞地区开展。采用结构化调查问卷收集社会人口学因素及小儿阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）知识的数据。使用描述性统计、方差分析和多因素逻辑回归分析对数据进行检验。结果 该研究纳入了393名家长和照料者，其中36.4%年龄在18至30岁之间。大多数为沙特人（n = 385；98%），212人（53.9%）为男性。大多数家长（n = 378；96.2%）对小儿OSA的了解有限。在识别POSA症状、理解其对儿童学业成绩的影响以及与心理健康问题的关联方面存在显著的知识差距。互联网和社交网站是关于POSA最常见的知识来源（n = 131；33.33%），其次是认识患有OSA的人（n = 103；26.21%）。子女数超过8个的家长比没有子女的家长在知识方面存在显著关联（校正比值比 = 10.661，95%置信区间：1.367 - 83.139，p = 0.024）。结论 该研究发现家长在识别POSA症状以及理解其对孩子学业成绩和心理健康的影响方面存在显著差距。尽管知识有限，但家长愿意接受对POSA的早期干预。该研究表明子女数较多的家长对POSA有更好的了解，这表明经验学习可能有助于他们的理解。该研究建议为家长、医疗服务提供者和公众制定并评估有针对性的教育和宣传项目，以改善POSA的诊断、护理和治疗效果。
