Knowledge and perception of stroke among adults in Osogbo, Nigeria

Stroke is a major cause of neurological admission in Nigeria. Its prevention has been reported to be dependent on public knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors. Ignorance of stroke risk factors and inability to control such risk factors may contribute to high prevalence of stroke among blacks. This cross-sectional descriptive study therefore investigated knowledge and perception of stroke among adults living in Osogbo, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 900 adults aged between 18 and 80 years as at their last birthday. Data were collected using a pretested modified version of instrument used in a previous study. Data collected from the final survey instrument were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 900 adults with male to female ratio of 1.4:1 and mean age 43.6+/-17.63 years participated in this study. Four hundred and seven (45.2%) of the interviewees reported that they were hypertensive. Heart was incorrectly identified by 54% of the respondents as injured organ during stroke. Majority (83.0%) of the respondents indicated that stroke was preventable whereas only 37.1% of them were aware of stroke recurrence. The most common stroke risk factors listed by the respondents were hypertension (78.2%) stress (59.9%) and old age (58.3%). Stroke survivors were perceived by 68.7% of the respondents as being able to return to activities of daily living but with diminished quality of social life. Knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors was good among the respondents. However, their baseline knowledge about stroke was poor. Stroke survivors were perceived as being unable to return to pre-stroke's quality of social life. Development of educational strategies to enlighten the public about stroke is therefore recommended.