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Ellis C, Wolff J, Wyse A. Stroke awareness among low literacy Latinos living in the South Carolina low country. Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health. 2009 Dec 1; 11(6):499-504.
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.