Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Gender impact on children’s knowledge and perceptions regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors: A school‑based survey in Greece

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Venetia Notara 1
. George Antonogeorgos 2
. Christos Prapas 1
. Anna Velentza 3
. Maria‑Eleni Kordoni 3
. Eirini Manifava 3
. Andrea Paola Rojas‑Gil 4
. Ekaterina N. Kornilaki 5
. Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos 2

1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Department of Public Health and Community Health, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Athens

2 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University

3 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University,

4 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Sparta,

5 Department of Preschool Education, School of Education, University of Crete, Crete, Greece

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are adopted during childhood and
adolescence. Health literacy at these ages remains the cornerstone of a healthy adult life. The aim
of the study was to examine the role of gender regarding CVD risk factors’ awareness and to develop
an evaluation tool for the assessment of CVD risk factors’ knowledge and perception among children.
METHODS: During the school years 2014–2015 and 2015–2016, 1728 students aged
10–12 years (5th and 6th grade), from 5 Greek cities (including Athens metropolitan area), were enrolled;
nearly 45% were boys (participation rate varied from 95% to 100% from school to school). Students
and their parents completed an anonymous questionnaire; students’ somatometric characteristics were
also recorded. Schools were randomly selected. Linear regression models were applied to evaluate
the impact of children’s gender on knowledge and perceptions about CVD risk factors.
RESULTS: Significant higher percentage of correct answers, among girls compared to boys, was
revealed regarding the weekly consumption of legumes, the breakfast weekly consumption, and
the effects of soft drinks on health (all P < 0.05). As far as CVD risk factors’ knowledge, significantly
higher percentage of girls than boys also answered that high blood pressure and television viewing
are bad for health and particularly for heart‑related problems (all P < 0.05). Girls had a significantly
higher mean score of 0.304 than boys, after adjusting for several confounders (P = 0.029).
CONCLUSION: Health education programs should take into account gender differences in children’s
perception and attitudes toward CVD risk factors, in order to increase awareness of children and
eventually reduce CVD risk during adulthood.

Keywords

Beliefs
cardiovascular disease
gender
knowledge
risk factors
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 8, Issue 8
August 2018
Pages 1-7

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