Comparison between Public and Outpatients: Physical Activity Intensity Levels Variations and Similarities on Awareness for Calling Emergency Medical Services Immediately by Acute Stroke in Greater Gaborone, Botswana
*Corresponding Author: Ookeditse Ookeditse, Sidilega Private Hospital, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana, Email: oozah@yahoo.comReceived Date: Dec 04, 2024 / Published Date: Jan 25, 2025
Citation: Ookeditse O, Ookeditse KK, Motswakadikgwa TR, Masilo G, Bogatsu Y, et al. (2025) Comparison between Public and Outpatients: Physical Activity Intensity Levels Variations and Similarities on Awareness for Calling Emergency Medical Services Immediately by Acute Stroke in Greater Gaborone, Botswana. J Obes Weight Loss Ther S9:001.DOI: 10.4172/2165-7904.S9-001
Copyright: © 2024 Ookeditse O, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objective: We determined physical activity intensity-based awareness for calling Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by acute stroke among the general public and stroke risk outpatients in a cross-sectional study in Botswana. Method: We used closed-ended questionnaires on awareness for calling EMS by acute stroke. Awareness was stratified by physical activity intensity levels. Research assistants administered questionnaires to respondents (outpatients and public). Results: The response rate was satisfactory with public vs. outpatients (93.0% (2013) vs. 96.6% (795)). Public vs. outpatients respondents had a mean age of 36.1 ± 14.5 years (age range 18–90 years) vs. 37.4 ± 12.7 years (age range 18-80 years), and comprising 45.5% vs. 41.9% males. Based on various levels of physical activity intensity, there were no significant differences in awareness for calling EMS or seeking medical assistance immediately by acute stroke between public and outpatients. There was satisfactory awareness for calling EMS by acute stroke among all levels of physical activity intensities except among public with low intensity physical activity with 62.7%. Awareness rates for calling EMS were highest among those with moderate intensity physical activity (81.3% public vs. 85.2% outpatients, p=0.763), outpatients with sedentary lifestyle (86.2%), and public with high intensity physical activity (79.7%) For blurred/double vision, among those with moderate intensity physical activity, outpatients were more likely than the public to contact medical clinic (62.7% vs. 41.5%, p=0.041). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in calling EMS or contacting medical clinic by acute stroke symptoms among respondents with either sedentary lifestyle, low intensity or high intensity physical activities. Among both public and outpatients with each physical activity intensity level except public with sedentary lifestyle, lower awareness for calling EMS by acute stroke was associated with those residing /working together while among both public and outpatients with sedentary lifestyle, it was with male gender, and no medical insurance. Among both public and outpatients with sedentary lifestyle and moderate-high intensity physical activity, it was no history of HIV/ AIDS (p<0.05). Conclusion: Results call for educational campaigns to increase awareness for calling EMS by acute stroke among those with stroke high risk respondents and based on physical activity intensity levels if we are to reduce the stroke burden in Sub-Saharan Africa which is the most affected region in the world.
