Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

Lujain Alamer; Eman Elsheikh; Nouran Alshehri; Hawra Alsalem; May Alkhaldi; Bayan Alhumaidan; Raghad Alanazi; Shaima Alshalan; Wadha Aldossary; Mujtaba Aldandan; Munirah Alkhitrish

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

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Original Article
Online Published: 06 Dec 2025

IJMDC. 2025; 9(11): 2774-2782

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

Lujain Alamer, Eman Elsheikh, Nouran Alshehri, Hawra Alsalem, May Alkhaldi, Bayan Alhumaidan, Raghad Alanazi, Shaima Alshalan, Wadha Aldossary, Mujtaba Aldandan, Munirah Alkhitrish.

Abstract
Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is influenced by modifiable, non-genetic exposures. We evaluated public knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to these risk factors in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey [October-December 2025] of adults (N = 480) using a validated Arabic questionnaire. Knowledge was scored (1 = correct, 0 = incorrect/“I don’t know”) and expressed as a percentage; attitudes were rated on a 3-point scale. Group differences were tested with χ²/t-tests/Analysis of variance (α= 0.05).
Results: Mean knowledge was 61.08% (7.33/12). Awareness was highest for maternal smoking (86%), alcohol (85%), radiation (79%), medication safety (75%), and diabetes (63%); lower for environmental pollutants (63%), poor nutrition (52%), infections (50%), obesity/excessive gestational weight (47%), and maternal age >35 years (43%). Attitudes toward prevention were favorable (mean 2.87 ± 0.42), with the strongest endorsement for follow-up of gestational diabetes and avoiding secondhand smoke. The internet (67.4%) and clinicians (61.2%) were the principal information sources. Knowledge differed by occupation (F = 4.218, p = 0.002; students > unemployed; health-sector > unemployed and employed outside health-sector) and monthly income (F = 2.877, p = 0.036; 5,000-9,900 SAR > <5,000 SAR). Attitudes differed by occupation (F =
3.485, p = 0.008; students < employed outside health-sector).
Conclusion: Public knowledge of non-genetic CHD risks was borderline adequate yet uneven, with gaps for infections, maternal obesity/gestational weight, and advanced maternal age, despite broadly positive prevention attitudes. Clinician-led, Arabic digital education - integrated with preconception and antenatal care and tailored for unemployed and lower-income groups - may address these deficits and reduce preventable exposures.

Key words: Public knowledge, risk factors, congenital heart disease, heart disease.

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Pubmed Style

Alamer L, Elsheikh E, Alshehri N, Alsalem H, Alkhaldi M, Alhumaidan B, Alanazi R, Alshalan S, Aldossary W, Aldandan M, Alkhitrish M. Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(11): 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Web Style

Alamer L, Elsheikh E, Alshehri N, Alsalem H, Alkhaldi M, Alhumaidan B, Alanazi R, Alshalan S, Aldossary W, Aldandan M, Alkhitrish M. Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=294662 [Access: June 23, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alamer L, Elsheikh E, Alshehri N, Alsalem H, Alkhaldi M, Alhumaidan B, Alanazi R, Alshalan S, Aldossary W, Aldandan M, Alkhitrish M. Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(11): 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alamer L, Elsheikh E, Alshehri N, Alsalem H, Alkhaldi M, Alhumaidan B, Alanazi R, Alshalan S, Aldossary W, Aldandan M, Alkhitrish M. Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. (2025), [cited June 23, 2026]; 9(11): 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Harvard Style

Alamer, L., Elsheikh, . E., Alshehri, . N., Alsalem, . H., Alkhaldi, . M., Alhumaidan, . B., Alanazi, . R., Alshalan, . S., Aldossary, . W., Aldandan, . M. & Alkhitrish, . M. (2025) Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. IJMDC, 9 (11), 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Turabian Style

Alamer, Lujain, Eman Elsheikh, Nouran Alshehri, Hawra Alsalem, May Alkhaldi, Bayan Alhumaidan, Raghad Alanazi, Shaima Alshalan, Wadha Aldossary, Mujtaba Aldandan, and Munirah Alkhitrish. 2025. Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (11), 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

Chicago Style

Alamer, Lujain, Eman Elsheikh, Nouran Alshehri, Hawra Alsalem, May Alkhaldi, Bayan Alhumaidan, Raghad Alanazi, Shaima Alshalan, Wadha Aldossary, Mujtaba Aldandan, and Munirah Alkhitrish. "Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alamer, Lujain, Eman Elsheikh, Nouran Alshehri, Hawra Alsalem, May Alkhaldi, Bayan Alhumaidan, Raghad Alanazi, Shaima Alshalan, Wadha Aldossary, Mujtaba Aldandan, and Munirah Alkhitrish. "Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.11 (2025), 2774-2782. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alamer, L., Elsheikh, . E., Alshehri, . N., Alsalem, . H., Alkhaldi, . M., Alhumaidan, . B., Alanazi, . R., Alshalan, . S., Aldossary, . W., Aldandan, . M. & Alkhitrish, . M. (2025) Evaluation of public knowledge and practices related to non-genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (11), 2774-2782. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1762320021

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