Abstract

AWARENESS OF STROKE SYMPTOMATOLOGY, RISK FACTORS, SIGNIFICANCEOF ACUTE MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION IN AL-MADINAH COMMUNITY

Banan Alhijji, Alzahraa Almahlawi and Magda Youssef

Abstract

Background: Stroke outcome is known to be affected by the level of stroke awareness in the community and the subjective risk factor perception is an important component of the motivation to change unhealthy life styles. The aim of the study is to assess the public knowledge of stroke in Al Madinah Al Monawarrah in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study applied in Al-Madinah community on 3572 adults older than 18 years old. The study sample was selected randomly from public places. A validated comprehensive questionnaire was distributed among the participants to determine their awareness about stroke symptoms, risk factors, significance of acute management and prevention. Results: 39% of participants didn’t know what are the early sign and symptom of stroke. Difficulty of speech was the most identified presentation of stroke38.8%.Obesity was the most commonly recognized risk factor 49.9%, while diabetes mellitus and hypertension represented by 42.4%, 41.5% respectively. Cardiac disease account about 35.6%, anemia 25.1% and AV-malformation 25.1%, hemophilia 24.9%, smoking 22.2%, hormonal contraceptive 12.7%, thrombolytic medication 8%, family history 6.9%, alcohol 3.7%.1.5% of the participants were with positive previous history of stroke. Older age and higher level of education and male participants were associated with better knowledge about risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke. Older age and higher education groups identified “go to hospital” as the action while The other groups identified to wait 12 hours and go to hospital if symptoms still present or ignore the symptoms. Conclusion: There is an alarming deficit in the level of stroke awareness in Al Madinah population. Urgent public health measures to correct this deficiency are promptly needed. People with lower age and lower education level should be the targets of educational programs.

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