Knowledge of heart disease risk factors among workers in a Nigerian University: A call for concern

Akintunde, Adeseye A; Akintunde, Temitope Sade; Opadijo, OG

doi:10.4103/0300-1652.150688

Cited by 49 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…This was in line with a study among university staff and students in Nigeria [19] and in Michigan [35], though it contrasts with the ‘blurred, double or loss of vision’ mostly identified among Australian urban dwellers [15]. That our study population was more aware of stroke compared to heart attack, could be consistent with the fear of handicap among the general population and also with the growing incidence of stroke in our setting [36].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

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Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon

et al. 2017

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BackgroundAdequate awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their risk factors may help reduce the population’s exposure to modifiable risk factors and thereby contribute to prevention and control strategies. There is limited data on knowledge among the general population in sub-Saharan Africa regarding CVD and risk factors. We aimed to assess the population awareness (and associated factors) of CVD types and risk factors in Buea, Cameroon.MethodsThis was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 among randomly selected adults (>18 years). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about CVD types, their risk factors and warning signs for CVD events (stroke and heart attack) were acquired using a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with moderate-to-good knowledge.ResultsOf the 1162 participants (61.7% women, mean age 32 years), 52.5% had overall poor knowledge (mean score 12.1 on total of 25) on CVD with only about a quarter correctly identifying types of CVD. Overall, 36, 63 and 45% were unaware of CVD risk factors, warning signs of heart attack and stroke respectively. In multivariable analysis; high level of education (aOR = 2.26 (1.69–3.02), p < 0.0001), high monthly income (aOR = 1.64 (1.07–2.51), p = 0.023), having a family history of CVD (aOR = 1.59 (1.21–2.09), p = 0.001) and being a former smoker (aOR = 1.11 (1.02–1.95), p = 0.043) were associated with moderate-to-good knowledge.ConclusionsThere exists a significant gap in population awareness about CVDs in Cameroon and this is similar to previous reports. Cost-effective community health education interventions taking into account socioeconomic status may be beneficial in this setting.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The overall low level of knowledge on CVD observed in our study is similar to findings among primary care physicians in the West region of Cameroon [17] and among university staff in Nigeria [19]. Similar worrisome knowledge levels have been obtained across other settings [10, 12].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon

et al. 2017

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“…However, most of them classified knowledge and awareness of CVD or the risk factors as poor, acceptable or good. In the study by Akintunde et al,[ 23 ] among university staff, a knowledge score of <50% was classified as low; 50–69% moderate and ≥70% good. Nakibuuka et al[ 24 ], in a study in Uganda classified urban and rural residents who could identify 5–10, 2–4 and <2 CVD risk factors or warning signs as having good, fair and poor knowledge respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the studies reported generally low knowledge levels of CVDs with most studies reporting less than 50.0% of respondents having good knowledge. In studies conducted among workers in a Nigerian University Hospital, one reported that 19.0% had good knowledge of CVDs[ 23 ] while another showed that 53.5% knew the mechanism through which stroke occurs. [ 28 ] Findings on the knowledge and awareness of CVDs in SSA is summarized in Table 2 and Fig 2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and awareness of and perception towards cardiovascular disease risk in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

et al. 2017

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IntroductionCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of non-communicable disease mortality in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Gaps in knowledge of CVD conditions and their risk factors are important barriers in effective prevention and treatment. Yet, evidence on the awareness and knowledge level of CVD and associated risk factors among populations of SSA is scarce. This review aimed to synthesize available evidence of the level of knowledge of and perceptions towards CVDs and risk factors in the SSA region.MethodsFive databases were searched for publications up to December 2016. Narrative synthesis was conducted for knowledge level of CVDs, knowledge of risk factors and clinical signs, factors influencing knowledge of CVDs and source of health information on CVDs. The review was registered with Prospero (CRD42016049165).ResultsOf 2212 titles and abstracts screened, 45 full-text papers were retrieved and reviewed and 20 were included: eighteen quantitative and two qualitative studies. Levels of knowledge and awareness for CVD and risk factors were generally low, coupled with poor perception. Most studies reported less than half of their study participants having good knowledge of CVDs and/or risk factors. Proportion of participants who were unable to identify a single risk factor and clinical symptom for CVDs ranged from 1.8% in a study among hospital staff in Nigeria to a high of 73% in a population-based survey in Uganda and 7% among University staff in Nigeria to 75.1% in a general population in Uganda respectively. High educational attainment and place of residence had a significant influence on the levels of knowledge for CVDs among SSA populations.ConclusionLow knowledge of CVDs, risk factors and clinical symptoms is strongly associated with the low levels of educational attainment and rural residency in the region. These findings provide useful information for implementers of interventions targeted at the prevention and control of CVDs, and encourages them to incorporate health promotion and awareness campaigns in order to enhance knowledge and awareness of CVDs in the region.

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“…The world health organization (WHO) promotes knowledge of behavioral CVD risk factors [11]. Already, some studies have assessed knowledge of CVD and risk factors in Africa among the general community [12][13][14][15][16][17], while a few others have done so in speci c population groups [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for cardiovascular disease among young and middle-aged adults in rural Tanzania

Muhihi

Anaeli

Mpembeni

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Improving cardiovascular health requires public knowledge and reduction of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This study assessed knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs among young and middle-aged adults in Morogoro, Tanzania.Methods: We conducted a community-based survey as part of cluster randomized controlled study of community health workers (CHWs) intervention for reduction of blood pressure among young and middle-aged adults in rural Morogoro. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed using open-ended questions followed by closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe knowledge of risk factors and warning signs. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with adequate knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs.Results: Two-thirds (65.7%) of the participants had heard about CVDs. The main sources of information were mainly relatives/ neighbors (64.8%) and radio (53.0%). Only 28.3% of the participants reported health care providers as source of information about CVDs. More than half of the participants (52.4%) did not mention even one risk factor spontaneously while 55.2% were unable to mention any warning sign. When asked to select from a list, 6.9% were unable to correctly identify any risk factor whereas 11.8% could not correctly identify even a single warning sign. Quarter of participants (25.4%) had good knowledge score of risk factors, 17.5% had good knowledge score of warning signs and 16.3% had overall good knowledge of both risk factors and warning signs. Residing in Ulanga, having higher education level, having ever checked blood pressure and being overweight/obese predicted adequacy of knowledge score for both risk factors and warning signs.Conclusion: Knowledge of risk factors and warning signs in this rural population of young and middle-aged adults was generally low. Health care providers were less likely to provide health education regarding risk factors and warning signs for CVDs. Health promotion interventions to increase population knowledge of risk factors and warning signs should be implemented for successful reduction of CVDs in Tanzania.

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Knowledge of heart disease risk factors among workers in a Nigerian University: A call for concern

Cited by 49 publications

References 16 publications

Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon

Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon

Knowledge and awareness of and perception towards cardiovascular disease risk in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

Public knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for cardiovascular disease among young and middle-aged adults in rural Tanzania

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