Public and outpatients’ awareness of calling emergency medical services immediately by acute stroke in an upper middle-income country: a cross-sectional questionnaire study in greater Gaborone, Botswana
Ookeditse Ookeditse,
Kebadiretse K. Ookeditse,
Thusego R. Motswakadikgwa,
Gosiame Masilo,
Yaone Bogatsu,
Baleufi C. Lekobe,
Mosepele Mosepele,
Henrik Schirmer,
Stein H. Johnsen
Affiliations
Ookeditse Ookeditse
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Neurorehabilitation Medicine, Trust hospital in Vestfold, Kysthospitalet Sykehuset
Kebadiretse K. Ookeditse
Department of Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine, Sidilega Private Hospital
Thusego R. Motswakadikgwa
Department of Internal Medicine, Sidilega Private Hospital
Gosiame Masilo
Department of Family Medicine, Larvik County Acute and Emergency Clinic
Yaone Bogatsu
Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana
Baleufi C. Lekobe
Department of Internal Medicine, Sidilega Private Hospital
Mosepele Mosepele
Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana
Henrik Schirmer
UIT The Arctic University of Norway, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Stein H. Johnsen
UIT The Arctic University of Norway, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Highlights • This is the first study comparing awareness of calling EMS among outpatients and public in sub-Saharan Africa • Awareness of calling EMS or seeking immediate medical services by acute stroke was adequate among both outpatients and public • Predictors of low awareness of both calling EMS and seeking immediate medical assistance were no medical insurance, residing/working together, history of psychiatric diseases, and normal weight • Results call for educational campaigns on awareness of calling EMS/ seeking immediate medical assistance by stroke.
