Knowledge on the Types of Cardiovascular Diseases among Academic Staff in Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, with increasing prevalence in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Academic staff are often exposed to sedentary lifestyles and occupational stress, which may elevate their risk of developing CVDs. Understanding their knowledge and preventive practices is crucial for targeted interventions. This study assessed the knowledge of the types, risk factors, and preventive practices of cardiovascular diseases among academic staff of Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 academic staff selected using a two-stage sampling technique. Simple random sampling was used to select seven faculties, while availability sampling was employed to recruit respondents. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the results and were presented in tables. The majority of the respondents (58.1%) were male and within the 31–40 age group (36.8%). A high proportion (99.2%) had heard of CVDs, and 86.6% correctly identified a heart attack as a type of CVD. Knowledge of risk factors was high for smoking (99.6%), excessive alcohol intake (98.4%), and unhealthy diets (92.9%), while knowledge was lower for diabetes (6.7%) and obesity (4.0%). Preventive practices such as regular medical checkups were reported by 43.9%, while 54.5% monitored their blood pressure or cholesterol regularly. The internet and social media (53.0%) were the major sources of information, while only 22.1% had attended a health education programme on CVDs at their workplace. However, 78.7% expressed interest in attending future workshops or seminars on CVD prevention. While awareness of CVDs and their risk factors among academic staff was generally high, there were notable gaps in specific knowledge areas and preventive practices. Institutional health education interventions and workplace wellness programs are recommended to bridge these gaps and promote cardiovascular health.