Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Taif Populations’ Perspective Based on Knowledge and Attitude Determinants

Background: In developed countries, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver condition. The disease raises the risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality, as well as associated comorbidities. The general public’s knowledge and attitude are critical in developing countermeasures to prevent the spread of the disease. Purpose: This study was done to determine the knowledge and attitude of the general public of Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data for the study, which covered knowledge (04 items) and attitude (04 items) (7 items). In addition, demographic questions were included to see how they influenced knowledge and attitude. The data was examined using descriptive statistics in SPSS-IBM 25. Results: Out of 454 participants, more than 72% were female and 55% were in an age group of 18-30 years and only 11% had known NAFLD cases in their family. The number of participants who had family members with NAFLD had a significantly higher level of knowledge (P=0.012). The vast majority of those polled in this study had a favorable or satisfactory attitude toward NAFLD. The age group of 31-40 years showed a significantly (P=0.048) higher proportion of participants with a positive attitude when compared to other age groups. It is also important to note that females with a good knowledge and positive attitude toward NAFLD outnumber male participants. Conclusion: Generally, Taif residents have less knowledge of NAFLD, but their attitude is encouraging. The link between chronic illnesses and NAFLD remains poorly understood. It is critical to find mechanisms and ways to halt the disease’s rapid progression in the community.