Exploring People’s Knowledge of Genetics and Attitude towards Genetic Testing: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Population with a High Prevalence of Consanguinity

Abstract

This study investigated people’s knowledge of genetics, attitudes toward genetic testing, and views on consanguinity. This cross-sectional study utilized a validated questionnaire modified from published studies to collect data on people’s knowledge of genetics and attitudes about genetic testing among 1008 respondents from various Saudi Arabian regions. Using SPSS software version 26, data were analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, and multivariate analysis. p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. About 59.9% of the participants had sufficient knowledge of genetics, and around 50% had a favorable attitude toward genetic testing. Knowledge of genetics is significantly correlated (p =< 0.001) with a positive attitude toward genetic testing. Gender, age, level of education, marital status, family income, and family history were significantly correlated with respondents’ understanding of genetics. Gender, family income, residence, and family history were associated with attitudes toward genetic testing at a 0.05 level of significance. There is a need to strengthen peoples’ knowledge of genetics and attitudes toward genetic testing through diverse educational programs and healthcare strategies. Impetus on how to disseminate genetic information on consanguinity and transmission of diseases should be prioritized in regions where consanguineous marriages are high.

Exploring Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers to Using Genetic Services in Damanhur City and Beni-Suef City, Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Notably, the awareness of the studied participants in the current research was higher than that reported by Vermeulen et al [ 16 ] in the United Arab Emirates, where only 7% of participants exhibited a good knowledge level in genetics and genomics. Conversely, the results were lower than those reported by Alotaibi et al [ 10 ] in Saudi Arabia, where two-thirds of the participants had sufficient knowledge of genetics. It is important to consider that a significant proportion of the Saudi participants were university students, likely exposed to genetics fundamentals through academic courses, unlike more than half of the participants in the current study, who had primary and secondary education backgrounds.…”

“…Moreover, the current study found that participants with a higher level of awareness also showed a more positive attitude toward the utilization of genetic services. This correlation between awareness and attitude is consistent with the results reported by Alotaibi et al [ 10 ], emphasizing a positive and significant association between participants' awareness and their attitudes.…”

“…These questions covered fundamental genetic concepts, the inheritance of diseases, gene-environment interactions, and genetic variation. The questions were adapted from existing literature [ 10 ]. A scoring system was employed, with each correct answer receiving a score of "1" and incorrect answers marked as "0."…”

The Screening Strategies Used to Establish Egyptian Women Entrepreneurs’ Attitudes towards Genetic Technology

“…Knowledge of genetic technology develops individuals' attitudes towards its adoption of technology. The increased understanding of genetics and genetic testing tends to correlate with more positive attitudes toward genetic technology [42][43][44][45][46][47]. This shows that, as individuals become more informed about the scientific principles and applications of genetics, they are more likely to have a favorable view of genetic technology and recognize its potential benefits in various domains, such as healthcare and agriculture.…”

Attitudes of parents with a child with autosomal recessive disease toward consanguinity

“…In the United Arab Emirates, despite the numerous obstacles that women confront, most participants continued to believe in the consanguineous marriage system (8). Data from Saudi Arabia indicated that consanguineous marriages are still common despite them knowing the increased risk of producing children with genetic disorders (9).…”