Prevalence and knowledge of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and health-related practices among women of Syria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent metabolic and hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Limited data exists on Syrian women’s PCOS awareness and health behaviors. This study aimed to gauge PCOS prevalence, knowledge, awareness, and health-related practices among Syrian women. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 11 February to 27 October 2022, targeting Syrian women aged 18–45. Collaborators from specific medical universities distributed a questionnaire adapted from a Malaysian paper through social media platforms. Out of 1840 surveyed Syrian women, 64.2% were aged 21–29, and 69.6% held bachelor’s degrees. Those with a bachelor’s degree exhibited the highest mean knowledge score (12.86), and women previously diagnosed with PCOS had a higher mean knowledge score (13.74) than those without. Approximately 27.4% were confirmed PCOS cases, and 38.9% had possible cases. Women with PCOS were 3.41 times more likely to possess knowledge about the condition. The findings suggest a moderate level of PCOS knowledge and health-related practices among Syrian women, emphasizing the need for increased awareness. Consistent local PCOS screening programs, in collaboration with obstetrics and gynecology professionals, are crucial for improving understanding and clinical symptom recognition of this condition among Syrian women.

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• health-related practices
• women
• Syria
• Prevalence of PCOS
• Cross-sectional Study

Acknowledgments

Diaa Yousef: Faculty of medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria ([email protected]) Ranim Alaoutani: Faculty of medicine, Albaath University, Homs, Syria ([email protected]) Rahaf Zaineh: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Zahra Odeh: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Rema Ghenim: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Shymaa Shaaban: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) KAMAR ALGEHWANI: Faculty of medicine, Albaath University, Homs, Syria ([email protected]) Orwa Habib: Faculty of medicine, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Farah Altaher: Faculty of medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria ([email protected]) Hiba Aledilbe: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Shahd Alhayek: Tishreen University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Mayasa Ismail: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus Al-Furat University, Syria ([email protected]) Seenaa B Barouki: Tishreen University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Duha Al Beik: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Yaser Al brabndi: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus Al-Furat University, Syria ([email protected]) Rasheed ftayeh: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus Al-Furat University, Syria ([email protected]) Hala Aljaabi: Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University ([email protected]) Yasmin Sahyoni: Tishreen University, Faculty of Medicine ([email protected]) Ali Jawad: Faculty of medicine, Damascus University ([email protected]) Rania Al hamdo Al Soliman: Faculty of medicine, Damascus ([email protected]) Ola Al-Hussami: Faculty of Medicine, AlBaath university, Homs, Syria ([email protected]) Nour Bassma: Faculty of medicine , Tishreen University ([email protected]) Mohammed Ammar Malla: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University ([email protected]) Jaafar Mahmoud khzam: Faculty of medicine, Tishreen university ([email protected]) Sarya Yousef Soudan: Faculty of medicine, Damascus University ([email protected]) Tarek Mansour: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Farah Abou Kheir: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Huda Almohamad Alrawi: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Haia Alhusaini: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Hiba kheder: Faculty of Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria ([email protected]) Munir Ghandour: Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Mouwasat University Hospital, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Shaaban hariri: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Shihab Chaer: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Ramadan Shahin: Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Waleed Al-Sayyad: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Yaman Saiouf : faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus , Syria ([email protected]) Ali Ahmad: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Rand Hasan: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Maram Bakri: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Shams Alhayek: faculty of medicine, Aleppo university, Aleppo, Syria ([email protected]) Judy Nasser: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Nadim Hallak: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Ahmad Alhamwi: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Batoul Alsuleiman: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Lara Aljbaee: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Hamza Tahhawi: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Haidara Msallam: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Nour Alhellani: Faculty of Medicine, AlBaath university, Homs, Syria ([email protected])Srour Qasem: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Yazan Al-Ali: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Rama albokai: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Ranim nashawi: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]) Aram roumieh: faculty of medicine, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria ([email protected]) Sedra Hussain: faculty of medicine, Damascus university, Damascus, Syria ([email protected]).

Ethical approval

Aleppo University Ethics committee provided the Ethical approval for the study (IRB-98/76/L9), and we confirm that all experiments were performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for publication

The informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, H.B., H.A., and S.S.; methodology, H.B, H.A., S.S., and Y.A.; software, A.A.; validation, L.K. and G.R.; formal analysis, Y.K.E.J.; investigation, Q.M.; resources, N.E.; data curation, H.B., H.A., S.S., and B.S.; writing—original draft preparation, M.A. and K.Y.L.; writing—review and editing, M.U.K., T.B.E., H.O., E.A., and Y.E.; visualization, A.R. and W.H.; supervision, A.R. and W.H.; project administration, S.F. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors have access to and have saved all the data necessary to support this paper’s conclusion. All data are accessible upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

N/A