Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) refers to a group of malformations that affect the acetabulum, femoral head, or both. This study aims to measure the knowledge and attitude toward DDH and its treatment methods among adults in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia between August and October 2022. Adults aged 18 years and above who lived in Saudi Arabia formed the study population. The participants were selected using a snowball sampling technique.
Results: A total of 948 participants were involved in this study. More than half (63.6%) of the participants confirmed that they knew about DDH. The most common source of information about DDH was self-education (16.8%), followed by social media (14.9%). Participants demonstrated weak levels of knowledge with a mean score of 3.2 out of 9, representing 35.6%. Furthermore, the results of our study indicated higher levels of knowledge among female and younger participants.
Conclusion: Almost two-thirds of participants are aware of DDH, and the most common source of information was self-education. However, their knowledge regarding its causes, clinical features, and treatments was deficient. Information on the population’s level of knowledge regarding DDH is the first step toward increasing awareness and knowledge levels of this condition. This can be achieved through real-life awareness campaigns by health institutions and healthcare providers or through virtual campaigns on social media platforms.
Key words: Developmental dysplasia of the hips (DDH), acetabulum, femur, knowledge, attitude, Saudi Arabia.
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