Assessing the Knowledge and Attitude towards Osteoporosis among Syrian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Ahmad Nabil Alhouri, Hanaa Zahrawi, Saja Alasaad, Shahd Al-Hayek, Hasan Nabil Al Houri, Sami Jomaa, André Torbey, Sarya Swed, Douaa Alamash, Aous Zawda, Shahad Alhattab Alhasan, Naram Khalayli, Maysoun Kudsi
Abstract
Background. Osteoporosis is a progressive decline in the bone mass, which occurs with no alterations to the bone’s composition. It is associated with increased bone fragility that may eventually lead to fractures. In this study, we aim to assess the level of awareness that Syrian women possess regarding osteoporosis and spread the knowledge about its prevention measures. Methods. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Syrian Private University. A validated questionnaire was asked to be filled in by women aged 18 and above, who were presented to clinics at Damascus, Al Helal, and Al Zahrawi hospitals between 28 November 2021 and 5 March 2022. Results. 6082 women were included, of which 63.9% ( <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"> <a:mi>n</a:mi> <a:mo>=</a:mo> <a:mn>3884</a:mn> </a:math> ) were under 30 years old and 89.3% ( <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"> <c:mi>n</c:mi> <c:mo>=</c:mo> <c:mn>5429</c:mn> </c:math> ) were in their reproductive age. The average knowledge score of osteoporosis was <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"> <e:mn>69.2</e:mn> <e:mo>±</e:mo> <e:mn>7.7</e:mn> </e:math> (28-100); 88.1% correctly defined osteoporosis while the majority (93.4%) has heard of it. The majority of our participants were living in rural areas (77.2%; <g:math xmlns:g="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"> <g:mi>n</g:mi> <g:mo>=</g:mo> <g:mn>4698</g:mn> </g:math> ) while only 22.8% ( <i:math xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"> <i:mi>n</i:mi> <i:mo>=</i:mo> <i:mn>1384</i:mn> </i:math> ) were living in urban areas. The respondents from urban areas reported the highest knowledge scores ( <k:math xmlns:k="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"> <k:mtext>OR</k:mtext> <k:mo>=</k:mo> <k:mn>1.472</k:mn> </k:math> ; 95% CI: 1.258-1.723; <m:math xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M7"> <m:mi>P</m:mi> <m:mo><</m:mo> <m:mn>0.0001</m:mn> </m:math> ). 75.60% agreed that aging is a risk factor for osteoporosis. 64.6% were aware that osteoporosis is directly responsible for hip fractures. Smoking, family history, lack of exercise, and menopause were the main risk factors for osteoporosis, at 53.6%, 53.1%, 84.6%, and 60.7%, respectively. Social media represented the ultimate source of information on osteoporosis (64.70%). Conclusion. Our study is the largest in the region and the first of its kind in the country. Syrian women had an average knowledge score regarding osteoporosis; the vast majority has defined it correctly and has heard of it. We found no statistical significance between age or educational level and adequate knowledge about osteoporosis.