Awareness of Cardiovascular Diseases and Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Risk Reduction Measures among Urban and Rural Primary School Teachers in South-Eastern Nigeria

Aims: To assess the knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and reduction measures among primary school teachers in rural and urban areas in Anambra state. Study design: Comparative Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Urban and rural primary schools in Onitsha North and Dunukofia local government areas of Anambra state between March–October 2015. Methodology: A random sample of 320 urban and rural primary school teachers (160 in each arm) who were less than 60 years, not pregnant and not on anti-hypertensive drugs were included in the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions. Results: Were predominantly female (97.81%), mean age of 50.78+5.13 years. Awareness of cardiovascular disease was higher in urban than rural respondents (88% vs. 76%; P=0.005). Commonest source of information was TV/Radio, more in urban respondents (72% vs. 69%; P=0.008). Overall, 63.49% of respondents had high knowledge while 36.56% had low knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Most identified risk factors were lack of exercise, smoking, non-consumption of fruit/vegetables (98.75%, 96.56%, 94.38% respectively) and least identified risk factors were body site of fat deposition, physical inactivity, consumption of packaged processed food (16.25%, 11.25%, 17.19%). More urban respondents knew non-consumption of fruits/vegetables, fatty foods and stress as risk factors (P<0.000, P=0.033, P=0.006 respectively). For risk reduction measures, 61.25% had high knowledge while 38.75% had low knowledge. Regular medical check-up, cholesterol check and reduced alcohol intake (49.06%, 45.94%, and 45.63% respectively) were the most identified while 5-servings of fruit/day, regular blood sugar (16.56%, 25% respectively) were the least identified measures. Knowledge of exercising 30-minutes/day, consumption 5-servings of fruit/day, avoidance of fried foods were statistically higher in rural teachers. Conclusion: There was high awareness of risk factors and reduction measures in rural than urban teachers with no statistical difference overall.