Knowledge and awareness of polycystic ovarian syndrome among female undergraduate Health Science Students in UiTM Selangor

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine disorder that impacts women of childbearing age. There is little information available about Malaysian women's understanding and awareness of PCOS. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of PCOS among female undergraduate health science students at UiTM Selangor. A descriptive crosssectional study was conducted among female undergraduate Health Science students in UiTM Selangor using an adapted Goh et al. (2022) questionnaire. Participants were randomly recruited through online platforms. Data was also analyzed using SPSS version 29.0. A total of 352 respondents participated in this survey. The finding revealed that 85.5% (n = 301) of respondents had good knowledge, and 72.2% (n = 254) were aware of PCOS. However, 51.7% of the respondents remain unaware of PCOS-related heart disease risk. Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed a statistically significant association between knowledge score and demographic background, including age, race, and course. Meanwhile, only age and course statistically correlated with the awareness score. Moreover, there was a correlation between knowledge and awareness scores of PCOS, which suggested that if the knowledge score increased, the awareness score also increased. In conclusion, most respondents demonstrated a good knowledge and awareness of PCOS, which the findings contradicted with most studies. Thus, women with suspected or having symptoms of PCOS should promptly seek medical attention, as early diagnosis and treatment can significantly enhance their quality of life.