Knowledge and Awareness of Congenital Inguinal and Umbilical Hernia and Its Complications in the Pediatric Population Among Parents in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Background Congenital umbilical and inguinal hernias are prevalent in infants and children. The exact incidence of congenital umbilical hernias remains unclear due to their typically asymptomatic nature, resulting in limited medical attention-seeking by parents. As these hernias are associated with serious complications such as incarceration, strangulation, and, rarely, obstruction, timely recognition and early medical intervention play a critical role in preventing these complications. This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge and awareness of congenital inguinal and umbilical hernia and its complications in the pediatric population among parents in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted among parents living in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the targeted parents using an online survey. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data (i.e., gender, marital status, education), general awareness about umbilical and inguinal hernia, and a six-item questionnaire to measure parents' knowledge regarding umbilical and inguinal hernia. Results A total of 440 parents responded to our survey (30.9% males vs. 69.1% females). Overall, 49.5% had at least four or more children. Of the study participants, 19.8% knew of both umbilical and inguinal hernias. The overall median knowledge score of six knowledge items was2.00 (interquartile range = 2.00). Most parents (64.3%) had poor knowledge, and only 2.3% of them had good knowledge. Higher education, awareness of the meaning of congenital inguinal or umbilical hernias, and having children with a previous history of umbilical or inguinal hernia symptoms were the factors associated with increased knowledge. Conclusions The parents' knowledge regarding congenital umbilical or inguinal hernia was deficient. Parents with self-knowledge of the disease were likely to demonstrate better umbilical and inguinal hernia knowledge than the rest of the groups. This study highlights the importance of awareness campaigns in bridging the knowledge gap.