ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE IN WEST SUMATRA PROVINCE

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2019, 17.9 million people died due to cardiovascular disease, 85% of which were caused by heart attack and stroke. Low awareness of cardiovascular disease can exacerbate the situation and increase mortality due to delays in treatment. This study aims to identify knowledge of heart attack and stroke in communities in West Sumatra Province and its relation to sex, ownership of health insurance, and delaying medical treatment due to cost. This study used a cross-sectional study design, conducted in West Sumatra Province from May to October 2020. The sample in this study was 223 people aged 18-54 years who were selected by simple random sampling. Data were analyzed by univariate analysis and bivariate analysis with the Mann-Whitney test. Most of the respondents have low knowledge about heart attacks and strokes and first aid response (57.4%). There was significant mean difference in knowledge between the group of respondents who have health insurance and the group that did not. There was no significant mean difference in knowledge of respondents by sex and delaying medical care because of costs. Low of public knowledge about the symptoms of heart attack and stroke should be addressed as an important contribution to reducing mortality and morbidity due to heart attack and stroke.