Knowledge and attitude of students in third year Faculty of Economics, University of Khartoum about cardiovascular disease’s Risk factors 2008

Abstract

Back ground: Around 80% of cardiovascular diseases deaths took place in low and middle-income countries At least 20 million people survive heart attacks and strokes every year; heart disease has no geographic, gender or socio-economic boundaries AIM: This study was done to assess Knowledge and attitude of Khartoum university faculty of economics, third year students 2008 about cardiovascular disease’s risk factors. Methods: It was Descriptive cross- section, done in faculty of economics, in Khartoum University in august 2008. Sample size was n = 118. Results: When students were asked to name CVD risk factors they know from the list of many risk factors, they chose genetic factor (98%), followed by smoking (92%), obesity(74%), high blood pressure (53%), lack of exercise (49%), alcohol (48%), fat in food (34%), diabetes mellitus(28%), high salt intake (28%),rheumatic fever(25%) and use of contraceptive (21%). 26 students (22%); 1 female and 25 male were smokers, about (8%) of the students eat a lot of foods with high fats contents Recommendations: *The risk factors of cardiovascular diseases must be investigated in all age groups.

* Dietary practices and lifestyle should be researched in depth to be able to design community-specific interventions.