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Table 4 Percentage of respondents who correctly identified risk factors and prevention strategies (N = 172)

From: Knowledge of young African American adults about heart disease: a cross-sectional survey

"Based on what you know, what are the major causes of heart disease?"

Heart Disease (HD) Risk Factors

Total

Male

Female

College

No college

  

(n = 62)

(n = 110)

(n = 116)

(n = 56)

Being overweight

91.9

91.9

91.8

94.0

87.5

Family history of HD

87.8

88.7

87.3

90.5

82.1

High blood pressure

83.7

82.3

84.5

91.41

67.91

Stress

77.3

80.6

75.5

83.62

64.32

High cholesterol

76.7

79.0

75.5

81.0

67.9

Diabetes

68.6

72.6

66.4

69.8

66.1

Not exercising

66.3

69.4

64.5

75.93

46.43

Smoking

62.8

67.7

60.0

62.9

62.5

Racial/ethnic heritage

57.6

61.3

55.5

64.74

42.94

Drinking alcohol

51.2

56.5

48.2

50.0

53.6

Aging

39.5

45.2

36.4

43.1

32.1

Stroke

33.1

24.2

38.2

31.9

35.7

High triglycerides

25.0

29.0

22.7

30.25

14.35

Low levels of estrogen

22.1

24.2

20.9

26.7

12.5

Menopause

15.7

17.7

14.5

19.86

7.16

"Which of the following do you believe can prevent or reduce the risk of getting heart disease?"

Heart Disease (HD) Risk Factors

Total

Male

Female

College

No college

  

(n = 62)

(n = 110)

(n = 116)

(n = 56)

Getting physical exercise

93.6

93.4

93.3

94.8

90.9

Losing weight

86.5

90.2

87.5

88.8

81.8

Reducing stress

86.0

86.9

87.5

88.8

80.0

Quitting smoking

84.8

90.2

84.6

81.9

90.9

Reducing sodium or salt in diet

81.9

85.2

86.5

86.2

72.7

Reducing dietary cholesterol

76.6

82.0

76.0

81.0

67.3

Taking vitamins E, C, or A

60.2

70.5

52.9

60.3

60.0

Taking vitamins w/folic acid

43.9

50.8

40.4

49.1

32.7

Reducing animal products in diet

37.4

45.9

40.4

42.2

27.3

Hormone replacement therapy

18.1

24.6

14.4

17.2

20.0

Aromatherapy

14.0

16.4

11.5

15.5

10.9

  1. Note. Data are percentage of respondents answering correctly. 1p = 0.000; 2p = 0.006; 3p = 0.000; 4p = 0.008; 5p = 0.025; 6p = 0.043.