Abstract
BackgroundImproving 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.MethodsWe 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 questionaire. 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.ResultsTwo-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.ConclusionKnowledge 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.
Highlights
Improving cardiovascular health requires public knowledge and reduction of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors
Health promotion interventions to increase population knowledge of risk factors and warning signs should be implemented for successful reduction of CVDs in Tanzania
Health care providers were not identified as key sources of information and knowledge about CVDs to the community, indicating that their primary focus is centered on treatment and that provision of preventive health messages is not emphasized
Summary
Improving cardiovascular health requires public knowledge and reduction of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Population level reduction in risk factors such as blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking and physical inactivity contributed to significant decline in CVD-related morbidity and mortality in high income countries [5,6,7]. A crucial step towards reduction in CVDs and improvement in cardiovascular health requires public knowledge of risk factors. 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 specific population groups [18,19,20,21,22,23,24]
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