Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards osteoporosis and its association with magnesium intake in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Osteoporosis results from low bone mass and microstructure and leads to fragility fractures. Nutritional supplements play a vital role in maintaining bone health. However, many people are unaware of the significance of this nutritional supplement, specifically magnesium, in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, we aimed to explore the level of knowledge among adults towards osteoporosis and the role of magnesium, their attitudes, and practices towards magnesium supplementation. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 755 participants aged ≥ 18 years from various regions of Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire using the KAP assessment tool, which consists of 35 questions in Arabic. The tool was validated in a pilot study involving 25 participants. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software. Of the 755 participants (31.8% male and 68.2% female), a moderate level of knowledge was found among participants (53.1%); there was no significant difference between the level of knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics (P-value > .05). Intriguingly, 66.4% of the participants had a positive attitude towards osteoporosis; age groups were statistically significant with overall attitude (P-value = .001). Regarding protective practices against osteoporosis, the findings revealed that 61.7% of participants had a poor practice; the consumption of magnesium, vitamin D, and calcium supplements was not significantly different between males and females (P-value = .710, .219, and .987, respectively). Furthermore, a higher level of awareness and positive attitude of participants were correlated with better practice, with a statistically significant P-value < .001. The results of this study showed that the participants’ level of knowledge was moderate, and a positive attitude towards managing osteoporosis was notable. However, they had poor practices for osteoporosis prevention and management.