Parental Knowledge Attitudes and Practice Towards Headaches Among Elementary School-Aged Children in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Hassan  M. Alzahrani; Abdullah S.  Alghamdi; Mohammed Ibrahim  A. Al Shaikh; Waleed Saeed  M. Alghamdi; Adel Abdulrhman  M. Alghamdi; Ziyad Farouq  M. Alghamdi; Rayan Tawfiq  M. Alghamdi; Elfatih Mirghani  M. Salih; Fahad Ali  Alamr; Omer M.  Aburaida; Khalid Alawad  A. Mohammed

doi:10.6000/1929-4247.2025.14.02.10

Authors

Mohammed Hassan M. Alzahrani College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah S. Alghamdi College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Ibrahim A. Al Shaikh College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Waleed Saeed M. Alghamdi College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Adel Abdulrhman M. Alghamdi College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Ziyad Farouq M. Alghamdi College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Rayan Tawfiq M. Alghamdi College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Elfatih Mirghani M. Salih Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dongola University, Dongola, Sudan
Fahad Ali Alamr Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Omer M. Aburaida Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Alawad A. Mohammed Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2025.14.02.10

Keywords:

Awareness, childhood headache, headache management, knowledge, parental attitudes, nutrition, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood headaches in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, and identify gaps that could inform targeted educational interventions.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 399 parents residing in Al-Baha. The survey assessed parental understanding, behavior, and perceptions concerning pediatric headaches. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27.0, applying descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman’s correlation tests.

Results: Among the respondents, 52.4% were female (N = 209) and 47.6% male (N = 190), with a mean age of 42.56 years. Female participants exhibited significantly higher knowledge scores than their male counterparts. The most frequently reported headache triggers were sleep disturbances (79.4%), vision problems (61.7%), and psychological factors (52.1%), whereas malnutrition was identified by only 48.9% of respondents. Symptom monitoring practices varied: 46.1% of parents reported observing symptoms before seeking medical care, while 23.0% considered headaches an emergency. Notably, 57.4% sought professional consultation when symptoms persisted, yet 32.1% administered painkillers without medical advice. Knowledge scores were positively correlated with both attitude scores (r = 0.151, p = 0.002) and practice scores (r = 0.336, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that parental understanding of childhood headaches is often limited, particularly concerning nutritional triggers and evidence-based management strategies. This underscores the urgent need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance awareness, promote appropriate health-seeking behavior, and reduce the risk of mismanagement.

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