title: Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of stroke: a cross-sectional survey in rural and urban Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information regarding the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases such as stroke is largely unknown among the vulnerable communities. This analysis, which is part of a larger U.S. National Institute of Heath-funded Medical Education Partnership Initiative neurological disorder survey, assessed community knowledge and attitudes on stroke and stroke risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population cross-sectional survey was conducted in urban and rural Mukono, district, central Uganda. Through the systematic sampling method, data were gathered from 377 adult participants who were interviewed about selected aspects of stroke knowledge, attitudes and perception using a pretested structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 377 participants were enrolled (47% urban). The leading risk factors identified by the participants were stress (36.6%) and hypertension (28.9%) respectively. None of the study participants identified cigarette smoking as a stroke risk factor. Seventy six percent of the participants did not recognize stroke as a disease of the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke knowledge is poor in both rural and urban Uganda. Tailored public health approaches that improve stroke awareness, knowledge and self management approaches are urgently needed to develop effective preventive measures and community response to stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaddumukasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. jkkayima@gmail.com.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kayima
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. kaddumart@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Martin N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kaddumukasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Raphael of St Francis Nsambya Hospital, Nkozi University, P.O. Box 7146, Kampala, Uganda. ddumbaentamuezala@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ddumba
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Mulago Hill Road, MUJHU3 Building, P.O. Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda. lmugenyi005@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Levi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mugenyi
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Neurological Institute Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. svetlana.pundik@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pundik
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Neurological Institute Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Anthony.Furlan@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.affiliation: Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Martha.Sajatovic@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajatovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. katabira@imul.com.
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katabira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult