Sociodemographic Predictors of Knowledge and Practice of Stroke Preventive Strategies among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

 Introduction: Stroke occurrence and morbidity are on the increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge and practice of stroke prevention with prompt response to symptoms or warning signs are essential elements of a timely diagnosis and disease management. We evaluated Sociodemographic predictors of knowledge and practice of stroke prevention among healthcare workers in Nigeria.  Methods: This was a cross-sectional study designed among 200 Healthcare workers in the Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Nigeria. They were selected by systematic sampling technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the research variables. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 25 statistical package.  Results: One hundred and thirteen were female clinical Health workers (54.5%), who were married (63%) and above 30 years (72%) of age. They had good aggregate knowledge (84%) of stroke prevention but with poor practice (61%). There was a significant association between good knowledge of stroke with gender, age above 30 years, having tertiary education, and profession. However, their poor practice of stroke prevention was significant with gender and profession. We found age (95%CI= 0.082-0.865, p=0.028) and profession (95%CI= 0.033-0.350, p=0.0001) as the predictors of good knowledge of stroke prevention, while gender (95%CI=1.771-7.030, p=0.0001) and profession (95%CI=0.167-0.693, p=0.003) as the predictors of poor practice of stroke prevention among Healthcare workers.  Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for older, tertiary-educated clinical Health workers to engage actively in both patients' education and public and government enlightenment campaigns to halt the rising burden of stroke across the globe.