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
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
;
7(1): 1-8, 2015. tab
Artigo
em Inglês
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1257806
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.Method:
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.Conclusion:
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
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
AIM (África)
Assunto principal:
Percepção
/
África do Sul
/
Doenças Cardiovasculares
/
Fatores de Risco
/
Conhecimento
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo de etiologia
/
Estudo prognóstico
/
Pesquisa qualitativa
/
Fatores de risco
País/Região como assunto:
África
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
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