Search

Background Little is known about stroke awareness in Latinos with low literacy and living in regions with high stroke rates. Methods We surveyed a convenience sample of 60 adult Latinos living in Charleston South Carolina to examine recognition of 4 common warning signs of stroke and appropriate first action to call 9-1-1. Results Forty-six percent of the participants recognized sudden facial, arm, or leg weakness; 39% recognized sudden vision loss; 43% recognized sudden trouble walking; 45% recognized sudden headache; 17% recognized all four warning signs. Twenty-seven percent of the participants incorrectly identified chest pain as a warning sign of stroke. Participants at the lowest literacy levels recognized three of the four warning signs more frequently than the participants at higher literacy levels. Discussion Overall, awareness of stroke warning signs was considerably low in this high-risk population. The relationship between low-literacy and stroke awareness was unclear in this sample.

Limited English proficiency (LEP) and other sociodemographic factors are believed to impact health knowledge, healthcare access and overall health status. However, the role LEP plays in the overall health awareness and receipt of healthcare services is not adequately understood.We surveyed 60 LEP Hispanic/Latino adults to determine their awareness of common health conditions in Hispanic/Latino communities and describe their experiences accessing and utilizing health services in the Charleston, SC area.Awareness of Common Health Conditions: The majority of participants identified alcoholism as an important health condition among Hispanic/Latino adults. Other common health conditions reported included drug use, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. Access to Health Services: All of the participants reported problems obtaining needed health services in the past. Problems reported were associated with costs, insurance and lack of Spanish-speaking service providers. Utilization of Health Services: More than 70% of the participants went to the doctor when they were sick, but 50% had never had a physical examination.The LEP Hispanic/Latino adults in this survey were generally aware of major health-related conditions common among Hispanics/Latinos. The presence of LEP did not significantly impact awareness of common health conditions in Hispanic/Latino communities. Healthcare access and utilization were influenced by a number factors associated with the local healthcare system.