Original Article https://doi.org/10.70084/mru/pmrcc/042.P22

Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Leishmaniasis Among Medical Students at the University of Kordofan

Randa Fadlallah Khaleel Hamoudah¹, Abubakar Alsiddig Habiballa¹, Nancy Aseel Mohammed Ahmed¹, Salahaldeen Ali Aldoma¹, Ahmed Widaa Ahmed Elteyb¹, Eman Abdelmutalab Omer¹, Malaz Mualla Abu Al-Noor¹, Amal Khalil Yousif Mohammed^2,3, Eldisugi Hassan Mohammed Humida ^2,4,5,6

Affiliations

¹Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid, Sudan. ²Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid, Sudan. ³Aldaman International Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan. ⁴EL-Obeid Teaching Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan. ⁵Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, EL-Obeid International Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan. ⁶Prof Medical Research Consultancy Center (MRCC), El-Obeid, Sudan.

Correspondence to: Eldisugi Hassan Mohammed Humida, Email: heldisugi@gmail.com

Cite: Hamoudah, et al Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Leishmaniasis Among Medical Students at the University of Kordofan. Medical Research Updates Journal 2026;4(2):21-32. https://doi.org/10.70084/mru/pmrcc/042.P22

ABSTRACT

Background: Leishmaniasis is among the most neglected tropical diseases. More than 90 countries are afflicted by this critical public health concern, predominantly impacting poor nations. Since it was first reported as endemic in Sudan, it still represents a public health concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of medical students at the University of Kordofan towards the disease. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive community-based investigation conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, in El-Obeid City, North Kordofan, Sudan, during the period from January 2026 to March 2026. Results: We included 323 participants in this study, aged 18-27 years, all of whom were medical students at the University of Kordofan. Males constitute 107/323 (33%), while 216/323 (67%) were females. Regarding the academic level of the participants in this investigation, the majority were at the initial university level, followed by the fourth year and sixth year, with proportions of 154/323 (47.67%), 26.9%, and 13%, respectively. Most of the candidates (63%) were unaware of leishmaniasis, of whom 48% were at an initial university level. About 42% of the participants were unaware of the types of leishmaniasis in Sudan; 77% of them belonged to the initial university level. Many subjects identified funding and the lack of awareness campaigns as the primary factors contributing to their insufficient knowledge and awareness of the disease. Conclusion: The awareness and knowledge levels of medical students at Kordofan University are generally low, with the most significant gaps observed among students at the initial university level. This investigation considers funding and the availability of awareness campaigns as crucial factors for improving knowledge and awareness about leishmaniasis.

Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Awareness, Medical students, Sudan, Kordofan