Awareness and Knowledge of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Their Prevention Among Adults in Abia State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity in tropical regions, yet community-level knowledge and awareness are poorly documented in Nigeria.This study assessed awareness, knowledge, and perceived barriers related to GI diseases and their prevention in Abia State, Nigeria.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to February 2025, involving 320 participants selected through multistage and systematic random sampling across the three senatorial zones of Abia State.A structured, pilot-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of GI diseases, preventive practices, and perceived barriers.Data were collected in person, uploaded to Google Forms, and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).We used descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.Results: Most respondents were female (192, 60.0%) and aged 18-29 years (175, 54.5%).While 192 (60%) were aware of common causes of GI diseases, only 135 (42.2%) reported knowledge of preventive hygiene and dietary practices, and 113 (35.3%) could not identify common symptoms.Cultural or traditional beliefs influenced disease perception in 198 (61.9%) of participants.The most frequently mentioned conditions were diarrhoea (79.1%), peptic ulcer disease (60.9%), and gastritis (26.6%), while 28 (8.7%) could not name any GI condition.Only 63 (19.7%) had participated in any GI health education program, and 83 (25.9%) reported receiving formal training.Major barriers included financial constraints (206, 65%), limited healthcare facilities (140, 44.2%), lack of health insurance (134, 42.3%), and poor knowledge of sanitation (199, 62.4%).Multivariate analysis identified educational attainment and occupation as the strongest predictors of awareness.Associations with age, gender, and place of residence lost significance after adjustment.Conclusions: This study highlights significant knowledge gaps, cultural misconceptions, and systemic barriers to GI health awareness in Abia State, Nigeria.Targeted health education programs, strengthened water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives, and expanded access to affordable healthcare are urgently needed to improve the prevention and control of GI diseases in tropical settings.