Awareness of inborn errors of metabolism among general populations of Makkah city in Saudi Arabia.

A. Mehder, Alanoud Omur; Al-Harbi, Hanaa Mubark; Al-Manabre, Layan Mamdouh; Al-Elyani, Manar Ali; Rahaf Abdullah, Rahaf Abdullah; Al-Qurashi, Waad Aali

doi:10.21608/sjsep.2025.429977

Awareness of inborn errors of metabolism among general populations of Makkah city in Saudi Arabia.

نوع المستند : أبحاث علمیة

المؤلفون

¹ Food Process Engineering Associate Professor Environmental and Occupational Health Department Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics

² Environmental and Occupational Health Department Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics

10.21608/sjsep.2025.429977

المستخلص

Inborn errors of metabolism are single-gene disorders resulting from defects in the biochemical pathways of the body. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness about inborn errors of metabolism among the general population in Makkah city and to determine the prevalence of individuals who are educated about these conditions. To achieve this, an online questionnaire was distributed using convenience sampling to 220 adults residing in Makkah city. The questionnaire included 20 questions, comprising both multiple-choice and dichotomous questions, designed to evaluate participants’ general awareness and knowledge of inborn errors of metabolism. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that adults in Makkah have a significantly low level of awareness regarding inborn errors of metabolism. Therefore, this finding underscores the urgent necessity for the development of broad and focused educational initiatives aimed at increasing public comprehension of these genetic disorders. Moreover, enhancing awareness is vital for promoting early identification, enabling prompt interventions, and improving the overall quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions and their families. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research explores innovative and culturally relevant methods to increase community engagement, as well as assesses the effectiveness and sustainability of long-term awareness initiatives. Overall, ongoing efforts in this field are critical to closing the existing knowledge gap and promoting better health outcomes within the community.

الكلمات الرئيسية