A large survey of adults in Jordan has found that while most people have heard of celiac disease, their actual understanding of the condition is strikingly weak, and everyday practices around gluten remain far from what experts would consider safe. The cross-sectional study, published in BMC Gastroenterology, surveyed 769 adults between March and May 2026 using a self-administered online questionnaire and found that knowledge of the autoimmune disorder scored barely above half of the maximum possible, even though nearly four in five respondents recognized the disease by name.
The researchers, led by Ala’a Al-Dala’ien and colleagues, set out to measure knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to celiac disease among the general adult population in Jordan, and to identify which factors were associated with higher or lower scores in each domain. Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals, and public awareness of it is considered essential for early diagnosis, appropriate dietary management, and improved health outcomes. Yet despite this importance, the study revealed that the mean knowledge score among participants was just 7.81 out of 15, or 52.1 percent, a level the authors characterized as poor.
Attitudes told a somewhat different story. The mean attitude score was 59.61 out of 75, equivalent to 79.5 percent, which the researchers described as moderate. In practical terms, this meant that most respondents expressed supportive views about accommodating people who need to avoid gluten. Indeed, 88 percent of participants supported the availability of gluten-free options in restaurants, and an identical proportion backed similar provisions in schools. These figures suggest a social environment that is broadly sympathetic to the dietary needs of people with celiac disease, even if the underlying understanding of the condition lags behind.
Practice scores, however, revealed a more troubling picture. The mean practice score was 7.69 out of 14, or 54.9 percent, indicating moderate practices at best. The study specifically noted that practices related to preventing gluten cross-contamination remained suboptimal. The finding that these practices lag behind attitudes suggests a gap between what people believe and what they actually do in kitchens and dining settings.
The survey also mapped where knowledge breaks down. The authors identified important gaps in three particular areas: diagnostic procedures, extraintestinal manifestations, and the autoimmune nature of the disease.
Where did people learn about celiac disease in the first place? Friends and family were the dominant source, cited by 51.6 percent of those who had heard of the condition.
The researchers also examined which characteristics were associated with better or worse scores. Family history of celiac disease stood out as the strongest correlate, significantly associated with higher knowledge, attitude, and practice scores, with all three associations reaching statistical significance at p < 0.001. Female sex, higher educational attainment, and higher income were associated with better knowledge and attitudes, while older age and male sex were associated with lower practice scores. The mean age of participants was 40.5 years, with a standard deviation of 11.7, and 79.6 percent of respondents were female, a demographic skew that should be kept in mind when interpreting the overall results.
Statistically, the team used descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses to identify predictors of the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. The consistency of the family history association across all three domains suggests that personal connection to the disease is one of the most reliable drivers of both understanding and behavior in this population.
The authors conclude that although awareness of celiac disease is relatively common among participants in Jordan, important knowledge gaps and suboptimal gluten-related practices persist. They call for targeted public education initiatives, improved healthcare counseling, and enhanced support for gluten-free dietary management to improve early recognition and appropriate management of the disease within the Jordanian community.
As with any cross-sectional study, the results capture a snapshot at a single point in time and cannot establish causal relationships between demographic factors and knowledge or behavior. Still, the study offers a detailed baseline for a country where celiac disease has received comparatively little public health attention, and it highlights concrete targets, from diagnostic literacy to cross-contamination practices, where education efforts could make the greatest difference.
Subject of Research: A cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to celiac disease among adults in Jordan.
Article Title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to celiac disease among adults in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
Article References: Al-Dala’ien, A., Alnawaiseh, N., Al-Laymon, R., Almajali, G. Y., AlJa’afreh, E. H., Algarawneh, B. Y., & Alqaisi, R. S. (2026). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to celiac disease among adults in Jordan: a cross-sectional study. BMC Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-026-05464-3
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-026-05464-3
Keywords: celiac disease, Jordan, cross-sectional study, gluten-free diet, public awareness, knowledge gaps, cross-contamination, autoimmune disorder, health survey, gluten intolerance, Knowledge, attitudes
News Source: Ophelia Keating. (October 30, 2026). Celiac Disease Awareness in Jordan Marred by Knowledge Gaps, Cross-Sectional Study Finds. Scienmag.
