Exploring Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers to Using Genetic Services in Damanhur City and Beni-Suef City, Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Advancements in genetic disorder management mark a transformative era in healthcare. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to using genetic services among the Egyptian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to achieve the aim of the study. A convenient sample was used to involve 385 residents of Damanhur City and Beni-Suef City to represent Upper and Lower Egypt. A validated questionnaire covering socio-demographic details, genetic knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to using genetic services was used.

Results: Regarding genetic knowledge, 70.9% of the participants reported an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about genetics. Furthermore, 67.6% expressed a negative attitude toward genetic services. Concerns about whether the test result is positive were the most common obstacle, cited by 64.94% of participants, followed by cost, which 60.78% of people found to be a major barrier. Significant associations emerge between socio-demographic factors and awareness levels.

Conclusion: The findings illuminate significant gaps in knowledge and attitude levels where less than a third of the participants had a satisfactory level of knowledge and about one-third had a positive attitude regarding genetic testing. Barriers such as concerns about treatment strategies, financial constraints, and conflict with personal beliefs emerge as critical obstacles. The identified associations between socio-demographic factors and awareness levels underscore the need for targeted interventions tailored to specific demographic groups.

Recommendations: This study recommends developing and implementing culturally sensitive awareness campaigns about genetics tailored to the specific demographic characteristics of the Egyptian population.