Background The burden of stroke is largely due to modifiable risk factors. Lack of knowledge about stroke and its risk factors hinders prevention and treatment. Effective health promotion programs need context‐specific data on the target population′s knowledge and practices. However, there is a shortage of data on the public′s understanding of stroke and its risk factors in sub‐Saharan Africa. Objective This study is aimed at assessing the knowledge of chronic disease patients about stroke risk factors, prevention methods, treatment options, and associated factors. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted in southern Ethiopia from February to April 2024. A total of 430 chronic disease patients were included by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Ethical clearance was obtained. Result A total of 430 patients participated, with hypertension being the most prevalent chronic disease. Only 25.1% demonstrated good knowledge of stroke risk factors. In multivariable analysis, good knowledge of stroke risk factors was significantly associated with receiving care in private institutions (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1–5.9), having a degree or higher education (AOR = 6.5; 95% CI: 1.9–21.9), urban residence (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.4–7.9), family history of stroke (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI: 2.1–13.0), appropriate follow‐up (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.4–8.4), and prior information from healthcare providers (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0–4.5). In contrast, merchants, farmers/housewives, and other occupational groups had significantly lower odds of good knowledge compared with employees. Some estimates showed wide confidence intervals, indicating limited precision and the need for cautious interpretation. Awareness of treatment and prevention methods was limited, with only 33.3% answering over 50% of prevention questions correctly. Conclusion The study revealed a significant lack of knowledge about stroke risk factors and prevention methods among chronic disease patients in southern Ethiopia. This highlights the urgent need for targeted health education interventions. Implementing comprehensive health promotion programs that address stroke‐related knowledge gaps is crucial. These should be tailored to specific demographics and delivered through various channels, healthcare settings, communities, and media.
Tamir et al. (2026) studied this question.