RESUMO
As part of a knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs (KAPB) survey, in relation to AIDS among the adult population in Barbados, questions were asked that sought to gain insight into the population's perceptions of risk factors, and the level of fear related to cancer, venereal diseases and AIDS. Public education by a variety of organizations in Barbados has sought to raise the awareness of the public about AIDS and cancer. The KAPB survey was carried out by trained interviewers, using a structured pretested questionaire, on a sample of the population derived in a systematic manner from the electoral register. The 509 respondents represent 0.2 percent of the population of Barbados. Ninety-five point seven per cent (95.7 percent) of respondents recognised smoking as an increased risk for cancer. Nearly eighty per cent of respondents felt that a person's lifestyle could prevent getting veneral diseases (78.8 percent) and AIDS (79.6 percent), whilst only 36.9 per cent felt that lifestyle could prevent a person getting cancer. The responses about lifestyle were reflected in the personal responsibility respondents felt if they got these illnesses. More males (45 percent) than females (29.9 percent), and those in younger age groups, felt that lifestyle was responsible for getting cancer. However, there were no age or gender differences in the perceptions of lifestyle and acquiring AIDS or venereal diseases. The older age group (55 - 64 years) was less scared of getting cancer, VD or AIDS, and although differences were small, men (45.4 percent) were less scared than women (38.2 percent) of getting cancer, and women (37.5 percent) less scared than men (34 percent) of getting AIDS(AU)
Assuntos
Adulto , Humanos , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Barbados , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
A knowledge, attitudes and practices survey in relation to cardioascular disease in Barbados was carried out by a questionaire administered to a 0.2 per cent representative sample of the Barbadian population. A section of the questionaire dealt with knowledge and beliefs of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Analysis of the responses showed that knowledge of the part played by smoking, obesity, exercise, and worry in the development of cardiovascular disease was good, with between 81 and 92 percent being aware of these. Many responders were also aware of diabetes (62 percent), regular taking of aspirin (65 percent) and eating fish (70 percent) and their relationship to heart disease, its development or prevention. At a personal level, less than half of the respondents thought their lifestyle could prevent getting a heart attack (41 percent), a stroke (39.5 percent), or diabetes mellitus (39.7 percent). As a group, the respondents claimed that they got regular exercise. However, the number of those claiming this was smaller in the age group 35 - 44 years - 25 per cent. The results show the success of work done in public health education, and identify areas such as transforming knowledge into lifestyle change, where success must be achieved (AU)