Awareness of Stroke among University Employees in Kigali, Rwanda: A Cross Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Neurology
• Health Education

Background:

• Stroke awareness is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.
• Understanding public knowledge gaps is essential for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate stroke risk factor, sign, and response awareness among Rwandan university employees.
• To identify disparities in stroke awareness between academic and administrative staff.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data were collected from 92 participants using self-administered questionnaires.
• Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests were employed for analysis.

Main Results:

• 12% of participants were unaware of any stroke risk factors, and 15.2% were unaware of any warning signs.
• 9.8% of participants would not seek immediate medical attention or would advise rest for stroke symptoms.
• Lower awareness of risk factors and signs was noted among administrative staff compared to academic staff.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of university employees exhibit limited knowledge regarding stroke.
• There is a clear need for implementing targeted stroke education initiatives in university settings.
• Further research is recommended to explore stroke awareness in similar populations.