Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon
Abstract Background Adequate 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-Saha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4477-3 |
| _version_ | 1828331694723170304 |
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| author | Leopold Ndemnge Aminde Noah Takah Calypse Ngwasiri Jean Jacques Noubiap Maxime Tindong Anastase Dzudie J. Lennert Veerman |
| author_facet | Leopold Ndemnge Aminde Noah Takah Calypse Ngwasiri Jean Jacques Noubiap Maxime Tindong Anastase Dzudie J. Lennert Veerman |
| author_sort | Leopold Ndemnge Aminde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adequate 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. Methods This 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. Results Of 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. Conclusions There 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:55:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efcf1c4fa651448dbbcede06b1023583 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:55:52Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-efcf1c4fa651448dbbcede06b10235832022-12-22T02:30:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582017-06-0117111010.1186/s12889-017-4477-3Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, CameroonLeopold Ndemnge Aminde0Noah Takah1Calypse Ngwasiri2Jean Jacques Noubiap3Maxime Tindong4Anastase Dzudie5J. Lennert Veerman6School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of QueenslandNon-communicable diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC)Non-communicable diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC)Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape TownNon-communicable diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC)Non-communicable diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC)School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background Adequate 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. Methods This 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. Results Of 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. Conclusions There 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4477-3Cardiovascular diseaseAwarenessRisk factorsStrokeHeart attackCameroon |
| spellingShingle | Leopold Ndemnge Aminde Noah Takah Calypse Ngwasiri Jean Jacques Noubiap Maxime Tindong Anastase Dzudie J. Lennert Veerman Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon BMC Public Health Cardiovascular disease Awareness Risk factors Stroke Heart attack Cameroon |
| title | Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon |
| title_full | Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon |
| title_short | Population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Buea, Cameroon |
| title_sort | population awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in buea cameroon |
| topic | Cardiovascular disease Awareness Risk factors Stroke Heart attack Cameroon |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4477-3 |
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