Knowledge about Stroke and Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients on Follow up At Public Hospitals In Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia, 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke related knowledge is one of the determinants of stroke prevention practices. Having knowledge on prevention methods helps to prevent the severe complication of hypertension (stroke) and the forthcoming burden related to complications and death.However, to the investigator’s searching capacity; study regarding knowledge about stroke its associated factors is not well understood in its fundamental level. Objective: To assess knowledge about stroke and associated factors among hypertensive patients on follow-up at public hospitals in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted at public hospitals in Jimma town from July 8 –September 5, 2022, among 401 hypertensive patients. A systematic random sampling technique was used for the selection of participants. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire, and record review chart, entered into Epi data version 4.6, and then exported to the statistical package for social science version 25 for analysis. Frequencies, percentages, mean, median, standard deviation and interquartile ranges were used for descriptive analysis. Binary logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with knowledge about stroke. The strength of association was measured by the adjusted add ratio with its 95% confidence interval, and a P- value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Finally, the result was presented with tables, charts, and text. Result: In this study, 401 participants completely responded to the interview; which yielded a response rate of 98.28%. Ninety-seven (24.2%) of the respondents had good knowledge about stroke. The educational level of college or above (AOR=3.7,95%CI;1.76,8.00), age less or equal to 45 years(AOR=2.6, 95%CI;1.54,4.50), urban residency(AOR=3.9, 95%CI; 2.22 ,6.82), perceived risk of stroke(AOR=1.9, 95%CI;1.10,3.27), history of stroke (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI;1.41,5.13), and duration of diagnosis for 5 years or more (AOR=2.7, 95% CI; 1.41,5.13) were factors significantly associated with good knowledge about stroke among hypertensive patients. Conclusion and recommendations: About three out of four hypertensive patients on follow up at public hospitals found in Jimma town had poor knowledge about stroke. So, improving this level of knowledge requires collaborative intervention of Jimma town public hospitals administrations, stakeholders, and health care providers.