Knowledge on myocardial infarction among community dwelling adults in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Myocardial Infarction (MI) commonly known as a heart attack, is one of the major causes for morbidity and mortality worldwide including in Sri Lanka. Despite advancements in treatment and prevention, MI remains a significant public health concern. Knowledge of preventive strategies, such as early symptom detection, and lifestyle changes are essential for reducing complications and enhancing outcomes. Knowledge of MI risk factors, signs and symptoms and emergency response are essential for timely medical intervention. However, inadequate awareness and delayed healthcare seeking behavior contribute to adverse outcomes among adults. Identifying the level of knowledge and associated gaps can help in developing targeted health education strategies to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the burden of MI in Sri Lanka. The objectives are to assess the level of knowledge on Myocardial Infarction and its associated factors among community dwelling adults in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 community dwelling adults in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka from October 2024 to July 2025. Validated interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data among participants and Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 26 (SPSS 26) was used for analyzing the data based on objectives. Most participants were female (58.3%), aged between 31–50 years (38.2%), Tamil (66.8%), residing in rural areas (74.9%), married (76.8%), and had senior secondary education (49.5%). Additionally, 45.7% were unemployed, and 40.3% had a monthly income of LKR 15,000 or less. Regarding clinical characteristics, most participants did not have a family history of heart disease (82.2%). The findings revealed that among the responses, 37.4% of participants had a low level of knowledge about myocardial infarction (MI), 41.9% had a moderate level, and only 20.6% had a high level of knowledge. The findings also suggested a significant relationship between the level of knowledge on myocardial infarction and educational level (p = 0.001), and family history of heart disease (p = 0.002). Around two-thirds of the study participants had low level of knowledge on myocardial infarction. These results highlight the urgent need for community-based health education and awareness programs aimed at improving knowledge of myocardial infarction. Enhancing public awareness of myocardial infarction risk factors, symptoms, complications, management, and prevention can play a vital role in promoting early detection, timely treatment, and prevention of adverse effects.