Abstract:
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, the poor knowledge toward risk factors of cardiovascular disease has been noted to be challenging in prevention of CVDs.
Problem statement: The research project revealed that CVDs will be the most causes of death worldwide in 2020 (Mahajan et al., 2012). Many rural populations are unaware of their personal risk factors of CVD (Mosca et al., 2004). In East African community; the countries experience the challenge in prevention of CVDs, related to poor knowledge toward its risk factors (Reiner, Sonicki and Tedeschi-Reiner, 2012). In Rwanda, no study has been done to assess the knowledge and preventives practices of CVDs risk factors among rural population.
The aim of the study: Is to assess the knowledge and preventive practices regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors among rural population. At a selected district in Rwanda.
Materials and methods: The ethical clearance to carry out the study was granted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and UR/CMHS administration. A descriptive, cross sectional, non-experimental design was used. Quantitative method was used. The study population included the adult community members from 18 to 65 years old. Sample size was 388. Multistage sampling method was used. Questionnaire was prepared for 388 residents. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results: The findings revealed that a majority 85.8% of rural participants had poor knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs). About 79.6% had alcohol consumption habit; 23.7% were engaged in smoking habit; 66.2% eat cooking oil every day; 53.1 % eat vegetables and only 5.9% eat fruits every day. The majority 99.0% have never performed test for blood cholesterol, 66.5% have never performed blood pressure and 60.1% have never visited a clinic for check up. Relationship between knowledge and preventive practice was statically significant at 0.01 levels.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that knowledge on Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors among participants is insufficient. Preventive practices also were at low level.
