Knowledge, Practices, and Safety Awareness Regarding Household Chemicals among Saudi Families in Makkah Province: A Cross-sectional Survey
Liale Y. Oukal
Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed A. El-Moselhy
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College of Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minya, Egypt.
Elsamoual Ibrahim Ahmedani
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Bashir A. Yousef
*
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College of Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Household chemical products are widely used for hygiene and cleaning, but their improper use and low awareness level can lead to severe health and safety problems. The current study was carried out to assess knowledge and practice regarding household chemical safety among Saudi families in Makkah province.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2025 using a structured questionnaire that was distributed in different regions of Makkah province, Saudi Arabia. A total of 163 responses were collected and subsequently analyzed through SPSS software. The questionnaire evaluated the usage patterns, safety measures, and information sources of the participants regarding household chemicals.
Results: Most participants were female (68.1%), aged 18–35 years (58.2%). Frequent use of chemical cleaning products was experienced by 92.5% of the subjects. While 91.3% acknowledged possible harm due to incorrect use, only 69.6% always read product labels before using them. Risky behaviors, such as keeping chemicals in reachable locations and product mixing, were commonly reported even though participants knew the associated dangers. The main sources of information about chemical safety were social media and informal channels, while awareness of official emergency services, such as the 937 hotlines, was very limited.
Conclusion: Saudi Arabian families have a general awareness of the safety of household chemicals but are not always translating this awareness into the practice of safety. Therefore, there is an urgent need for specialized public health education programs and the integration of chemical safety awareness into home and educational settings to foster safer behavior and avoid household hazard.
Keywords: Chemical safety, household chemicals, saudi families, public health