AlSubaie Sarah S, Bin Muaibed Rewaida R, AlManea Tala S, Alshaibani Sara K, Al Towaim Norah S, Alahmari Lama A, Alanazi Maha M, Almutairi Ahmed M
College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, SAU.
Department of pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, SAU.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 27;16(9):e70347. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70347. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Background Puberty is the process of physical maturation where an adolescent reaches sexual maturity and becomes capable of reproduction. On average, puberty typically begins between 8 and 13 years old in females and 9 and 14 years old in males. The traditional definition of precocious puberty is the development of secondary sexual characteristics before eight years of age in girls and nine years in boys. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of Riyadh residents in Saudi Arabia about precocious puberty and its complications. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the awareness and knowledge among Riyadh residents about precocious puberty and its complications; 426 participants were included in this study. Participants completed a pretested self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, knowledge about precocious puberty definition, risk factors, complications, and treatment. Results This study enrolled 426 participants. Overall, 10.1% were correct about the precocious puberty age for girls, and 8.5% knew about the precocious puberty age for boys. The overall mean knowledge score among the study sample was 5.56 (SD = 2.79), with poor knowledge being prominent and constituting 68.8%, while fair and good knowledge were 30% and 1.2%, respectively. Working in a non-medical field was the sole independent significant predictor of incorrect answers of knowledge about precocious puberty. Conclusions Awareness strategies are needed to increase awareness among the community to encourage prevention and treatment for precocious puberty as the awareness and knowledge of Riyadh residents in Saudi Arabia about precocious puberty and its complications are low.
青春期是身体成熟的过程，青少年达到性成熟并具备生殖能力。平均而言，女性青春期通常始于8至13岁，男性始于9至14岁。性早熟的传统定义是女孩在8岁前、男孩在9岁前出现第二性征发育。在本研究中，我们旨在评估沙特阿拉伯利雅得居民对性早熟及其并发症的认识和了解情况。
开展了一项横断面研究，以评估利雅得居民对性早熟及其并发症的认识和了解；本研究纳入了426名参与者。参与者完成了一份经过预测试的自填式问卷，问卷包括社会人口统计学数据、关于性早熟定义、危险因素、并发症及治疗的知识。
本研究纳入了426名参与者。总体而言，10.1%的人正确知晓女孩性早熟的年龄，8.5%的人知道男孩性早熟的年龄。研究样本的总体平均知识得分是5.56（标准差=2.79），知识水平较差的情况较为突出，占68.8%，而知识水平一般和良好的分别占30%和1.2%。从事非医疗领域工作是性早熟知识回答错误的唯一独立显著预测因素。
由于沙特阿拉伯利雅得居民对性早熟及其并发症的认识和了解程度较低，需要采取提高认识的策略，以增强社区的认识，鼓励对性早熟进行预防和治疗。
