Awareness of parents about shaken baby syndrome in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Background and aim: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) also known as (abusive head trauma) is a common disease that occurs in infants which may causes serious complications and high risk of infant mortality rates, especially if not discovered and treated appropriately. Parents' education should not be overlooked, as parental awareness about how to detect and prevent SBS is an important factor to reduce the burden of this condition. This study aims to assess parental awareness about SBS symptoms, complications and prevention methods in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire to collect data about SBS from parents in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. Parents in Makkah city with internet accessibility were the target population. Data collection was done through data collectors who distributed the questionnaire on social media platforms. Results: Out of 385 respondents to our questionnaire, 27% of them were between 40 to 49 years old. The majority of the study participants are females (62.9%). 249 (64.7%) participants did not hear or read about SBS before. Participants ' sources of information were primarily from social media platforms (20.8%), followed by friends and relatives (8.3%). Approximately 28.3% of participants believed that domestic violence was a risk factor for SBS. Meanwhile 70.6% of them did not know the causes of SBS. Conclusion: The majority of the participants demonstrated a lack of information regarding SBS risk factors, complications and prevention methods. Thus, it is essential to reinforce their knowledge to help reduce the incidence and burden of this condition.