Awareness Level of Herpes Zoster Infection Among the Residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. Awareness and knowledge of HZ and its associated complications vary across countries. Limited data are available on the awareness and knowledge of HZ among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aims to measure awareness of HZ infection and its vaccine among the citizens of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

An online questionnaire was distributed to the citizens of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess their awareness and knowledge of HZ. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, awareness of HZ and its vaccine, and knowledge about both HZ and the HZ vaccine. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

A total of 557 valid responses were included in the analysis. The majority were female participants (79%) and Saudi nationals (94.8%). The awareness level of HZ was high, with 85.1% of participants reporting having heard of it. However, only 34.2% were aware of the HZ vaccine. The knowledge level regarding HZ and its vaccine varied, with some misconceptions observed. Factors associated with HZ vaccination included age, family history of HZ, and awareness of HZ. Participants with a family history of HZ had higher odds of vaccination (OR: 4.2, p = 0.002).

This study revealed moderate awareness and knowledge of HZ and its vaccine among citizens of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Improving knowledge about HZ and its vaccine can contribute to the prevention and management of this viral infection.