Community Awareness of Preventive Health Measures and Lifestyle-Related Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study at Al-Diwaniyiah Teaching Hospital, Iraq

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) related to lifestyle, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are the most common causes of premature mortality and morbidity in Iraq. Increasing awareness within communities about preventative health behaviours are essential to reduce the burden of these diseases. Evidence about community awareness levels in the Al-Diwaniya Governorate is limited. Aim: To determine the awareness levels of community members of preventative health behaviours and preventable lifestyle diseases among those attending the outpatient clinics at Al-Diwaniya Educational Hospital and the sociodemographic factors associated with low levels of awareness. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Al- Diwaniyiah Teaching Hospital outpatient clinics between January to June 2025. Using convenience sampling, 420 adults participated in the study. The validated self-administered structured survey collected sociodemographic data and information about 1) common preventable lifestyle diseases, 2) modifiable risk factors for common preventable lifestyle diseases, and 3) knowledge of preventative health behaviours. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square statistic were conducted using SPSS version 26. Results: The average participant age was 38.4 ± 12.7 years. Overall, there was adequate awareness of preventable lifestyle diseases for 41.9% of participants. Awareness levels of preventable lifestyle diseases were significantly more prevalent in participants with university education (68.4%) compared to those with only primary education (18.2%; p < 0.001). The variables of sex (i.e., female), residence (i.e., urban), and income level (i.e., higher income) were independently associated with better awareness of preventable lifestyle diseases. Inadequate knowledge of specific preventative health behaviours were found across all levels of education (e.g., dietary modifications, exercise, smoking cessation, and routine screening). Conclusion: There is inadequate community awareness of preventative health behaviours and preventable lifestyle diseases among those attending Al-Diwaniya Educational Hospital. Targeted community health education programs are urgently required to improve awareness of preventative health behaviours and preventable lifestyle diseases, specifically for those with lower levels of education, living in rural locations, or have lower monthly income to attempt to reduce the growing burden of NCDs in Iraq.