2025, Volume 18, Issue 4, pp 315 – 323

Public perceptions and practices on air quality and respiratory health: insights from a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding author Turki Alanzi, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, College of Public Health, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.E-mail: talanzi@iau.edu.sa

Abstract

This study aimed to assess public perceptions and practices regarding air quality and its impact on respiratory health in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 539 participants, selected through stratified random sampling across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA. Findings indicated that 63.2% (n = 341) of participants occasionally checked air quality reports, with moderate confidence in interpreting them (52.5%, n = 283). Awareness of the health impacts of air pollution was higher in urban areas, while rural participants showed less concern and lower awareness (P < .0001). Younger participants (18-30 years) had the highest concern about air pollution (mean: 3.39), whereas older participants demonstrated lower awareness of associated health risks (P < .0001). The study found no significant gender differences in perceptions (P > .05). Despite moderate concern about air pollution, participants perceived a low impact on their quality of life (mean: 2.85). The study underscores the importance of localized public health strategies to address air quality concerns and mitigate respiratory health risks in Saudi Arabia.

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About this article

PMC ID: 12094312
PubMed ID: 
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2024-0385

Article Publishing Date (print): 4 2025
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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