Awareness of the risk factors of stroke among non-teaching staff of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

• Published in: Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy (Online) Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Okonkwo, Uchenna Prosper, Uzuh, Favour Nnenna, Nwankwo, Maduaburochukwu Joseph, Okoye, Emmanuel Chiebuka, Ummuna, Joseph Onuwa, Igwe, Emeka Sylvester, Maduagwu, Stanley Monday, Ani, Kenneth Umezulike, Akobundu, Uzoamaka Nwakaego, Nwanne, Chiamaka Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Age groups; Awareness; Blood vessels; Brain research; Cardiovascular disease; College admissions; College campuses; Consent; Demographics; Educational attainment; Fatalities; Heart; Hospitals; Hypertension; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Non-teaching staff; Original Research Article; Orthopedics; Population; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sampling techniques; Sociodemographics; Stroke; Nigeria; Africa; Stroke; Awareness; Non-teaching staff; Risk factors
• ISSN: 1110-6611; 2536-9660
• DOI: 10.1186/s43161-021-00057-5

Background The prevalence of stroke is increasing in Nigeria due to a lack of awareness of their predisposing factors. There is therefore a need for good knowledge and awareness of stroke risk factors in the general populations. Thus, this study assessed the level of awareness of stroke risk factors among non-teaching staff in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. Results Most of the participants were female, 89 (69%), and had a post-graduate degree, 84 (65.1%). A total of 129 participants participated in this survey, and 91 (70.5%) were familiar with the term “stroke.” The commonest risk factors were high blood pressure (86%), stress (74.4%), and lack of exercise (63.6%). The study showed that the awareness of stroke risk factors among the participants was poor (40.3%). Conclusion Stroke awareness was poor among the participants with the highest risk of stroke despite their high literacy level. Female participants, with a postgraduate level qualification and working as senior non-teaching staff, had a better awareness of stroke risk factors than their male colleagues. This shows a need to increase stroke awareness campaigns in the community.