Knowledge and Awareness of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among the Adult Population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes severe neurobehavioral and developmental complications, yet public awareness remains understudied in regional Saudi Arabia. This study evaluated knowledge of pediatric OSA among the general population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and identified its sociodemographic determinants. Methodology This cross-sectional study surveyed the adult population of Al-Ahsa between July 30, 2025, and May 30, 2026. Utilizing a convenience sampling method, data were gathered from 393 participants via a pre-tested, validated, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge levels were dichotomized into good (greater than 70%) or poor (70% or less). Statistical analyses, encompassing both descriptive and inferential statistics, were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among 393 participants, 197 (50.1%) were male, 278 (70.7%) were university-educated, and most of them (378; 96.2%) demonstrated poor overall knowledge of pediatric OSA. While 308 (78.4%) knew it was treatable, 235 (59.8%) were unaware of its impact on academic performance, and only 23 (5.9%) recognized its definitive respiratory criteria. Higher knowledge scores significantly correlated with advanced education (p < 0.001), being married (p = 0.022), and fewer children (p = 0.001). Social media was the main information source (32.1%), while 42.7% had never heard of the condition. Conclusion Public knowledge and awareness of pediatric OSA in Al-Ahsa is critically deficient. Target campaigns utilizing digital media and clinical specialists are urgently needed.