The Awareness of Females About Risk Factors That Lead to Having a Baby With Congenital Heart Disease in Taif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background There is limited data on the awareness of risk factors associated with congenital heart diseases in Saudi Arabia. This study assesses females' knowledge of the risk factors that lead to giving birth to a child with congenital heart disease in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was done on 254 females. An online questionnaire was used to collect data about the participants' demographics and their knowledge of risk factors that lead to having a baby with congenital heart disease, including risks such as smoking, drinking alcohol, taking unprescribed medication, exercising, contracting German measles, developing thyroid disease, and not taking vitamins and folic acid, as well as genetic factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, consanguineous marriage, advanced maternal age, and eating unhealthy food. Results The most common risk factors linked to newborns with congenital heart disorders (CHDs) are alcohol consumption (98.4%), smoking (96%), genetics (86.6%), high blood pressure (82.3%), diabetes (78.4%), and taking medication during pregnancy (74.4%). A little over 73.3% of the participants were aware that risk factors for preterm birth included not taking vitamins and folic acid during pregnancy, obesity (68.9%), contracting German measles while pregnant (68.5%), consanguineous marriage (62.2%), developing thyroid disease during pregnancy (56.7%), and advanced maternal age (50%); 11.4%, 46.1%, and 42.5% of the participants had poor, fair, and good understanding, respectively, of the risk factors for having a baby with congenital cardiac disease. There was no significant correlation between the participants' demographic characteristics and their levels of awareness. Conclusion There is a need for public programs to increase awareness about the risk factors associated with congenital heart diseases.