Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: July | Volume: 7 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 202-211
Awareness of Stroke Risk Factors and Preventive Health Practices among Federal Civil Servants in Ogun State, Nigeria
Anyasor Chiamaka Ogechi1, Aina, Obafemi Bolajoko2
1Assistant Lecturer, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, School of Nursing Babcock University, Ogun State, Nigeria.
2Chief Nursing Officer, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Anyasor Chiamaka Ogechi
ABSTRACT
Background: Stroke is a growing public health problem worldwide. It is most especially common among regions with limited resources and high disease burden with low per capita income such as Nigeria, where 60% of the Nigerian populace lives below 40% of the poverty line. Civil servants form a significant population of the vulnerable group at risk of stroke in Nigeria. Hence this study aims to investigate stroke awareness, its risk factors and preventive health practices of stroke among federal civil servants in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Methods: Study utilized a work-place based survey design, adopting a systematic randomized sampling technique to recruit 400 participants for this study. A self-designed questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. 384 questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version.
Results: Majority (91.9%) of the respondents have heard about stroke. However, they lack adequate information on some associated health risk factors attributed to stroke. Also, stroke preventive health practices among the respondent is poor. Although more than half (60.7%) of the respondents said they carryout routine medical check-up, their practice of dietary intake is inadequate. There is a statistical difference (P<0.05) between respondent’s level of education and awareness of stroke.
Conclusions: Awareness of risk factors of stroke and preventive practices is low. This indicates an urgent need for intensified programs on awareness campaigns and public education on stroke, its risk factors and various preventive health practices of stroke in order to reduce the burden of stroke in Nigeria.
Key words: Awareness, stroke, risk factors, preventive health practices, federal civil servants.