Abstract
This study, designed to complement a large population survey on prevalence of stroke risk factors, assessed knowledge and perception of stroke and associated factors. A population survey was conducted in urban Nansana and rural Busukuma, Wakiso district, central Uganda. Adult participants selected by multistage stratified sampling were interviewed about selected aspects of stroke knowledge and perception in a pretested structured questionnaire. There were 1616 participants (71.8% urban; 68.4% female; mean age: 39.6 years ± 15.3). Nearly 3/4 did not know any stroke risk factors and warning signs or recognize the brain as the organ affected. Going to hospital (85.2%) was their most preferred response to a stroke event. Visiting herbalists/traditional healers was preferred by less than 1%. At multivariable logistic regression, good knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors was associated with tertiary level of education (OR 4.29, 95% CI 2.13-8.62 and OR 5.96, 95% CI 2.94-12.06), resp.) and self-reported diabetes (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.18-3.32 and OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.04-3.25), resp.). Knowledge about stroke in Uganda is poor although the planned response to a stroke event was adequate. Educational strategies to increase stroke knowledge are urgently needed as a prelude to developing preventive programmes.
Highlights
Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1,2,3,4] with developing countries accounting for 85% of global deaths from stroke [1,2,3]
Lack of information and poor control of stroke risk factors contribute to the rising incidence of stroke amongst Africans [5,6,7]
Mentioning the brain as the correct organ affected in stroke was associated with good knowledge of stroke warning signs at bivariate logistic regression but not by multivariable logistic regression
Summary
Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1,2,3,4] with developing countries accounting for 85% of global deaths from stroke [1,2,3]. In Uganda, public perception and level of knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors have not been well studied. Given the close relationship between health behaviours and health knowledge, this study assessed the knowledge and perception of stroke (organ focus, risk factors, warning signs, ISRN Stroke treatment choice, availability of sources of information, and perceived risk) among urban and rural populations in Wakiso district, central Uganda. This information is critical to inform appropriate health promotion campaigns to prevent stroke and minimise acute stroke complications among high risk populations
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