Knowledge of stroke risk factors and prevention among hypertensive patients on follow-up at Addis Ababa University Tertiary Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess knowledge of stroke risk factors and prevention among hypertensive patients on follow-up at Addis Ababa University Tertiary Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: This study was conducted at Addis Ababa University Tertiary Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: The sample size was determined using the single population proportion calculation. A list of all patients with hypertension on follow-up was framed from the appointment book of the cardiovascular clinic. Then, 316 participants were recruited by simple random sampling procedure from 18 April 2022 to 19 May 2022. The study included all patients with hypertension >18 years of age who were on follow-up during the data-collecting period. In contrast, patients with memory loss or cognitive impairment and who are unable to communicate were excluded from the study. RESULT: With a response rate of 96.8%, 306 respondents in total were questioned. The average age of the participants was 53.6 years (SD±13.4). More than half of participants (52.9%) were female. The average score for understanding stroke risk factors and prevention is 44.1% and 49.7%, respectively. Knowledge of stroke risk factors was substantially correlated with residency and educational level, while knowledge of stroke prevention was significantly associated with sex, income and educational level. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that patients with hypertension who participated in the study had poor knowledge of stroke risk factors and prevention. The mean score of knowledge on risk factors and prevention strategies of stroke is 44.1% and 49.7%, respectively, and needs improvement.