title: Knowledge and perceptions of risk for cardiovascular disease: Findings of a qualitative investigation from a low-income peri-urban community in the Western Cape, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Africa currently faces an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease. Although referred to clinics after community screening initiatives, few individuals who are identified to be at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease attend. Low health literacy and risk perception have been identified as possible causes. We investigated the knowledge and perceptions about risk for cardiovascular disease in a community.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a series of focus group discussions with individuals from a low incomeperi-urban community in the Western Cape, South Africa. Different methods of presenting risk were explored. The data were organised into themes and analysed to find associations between themes to provide explanations for our findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents' knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors varied, but most were familiar with the terms used to describe cardiovascular disease. In contrast, understanding of the concept of risk was poor. Risk was perceived as a binary concept and evaluation of different narrative and visual methods of presenting risk was not possible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding cardiovascular disease and its risk factors requires a different set of skills from that needed to understand uncertainty and risk. The former requires knowledge of facts, whereas understanding of risk requires numerical and computational skills. Without a better understanding of risk, risk assessments for cardiovascular disease may fail in this community.
authors: Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Cape Town. samsurka@gmail.com.
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Surka
authors: Krisela
authors: K
authors: Steyn
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Everett-Murphy
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Gaziano
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Levitt
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population