Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Hypertension in a Country in Epidemiological Transition

Abstract

Abstract-Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is a crucial element of hypertension control, but little information is available from developing countries where hypertension has lately been recognized as a major health problem. Therefore, we examined KAP on hypertension in a random sample of 1067 adults aged 25 to 64 years from the Seychelles Islands (Indian Ocean). KAP were assessed from an administered structured questionnaire. The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension (screening blood pressure [BP] Ն160/95 mm Hg or taking antihypertensive medication) was 36% in men and 25% in women aged 25 to 64 years. Among hypertensive persons, 50% were aware of the condition, 34% were treated, and 10% had controlled BP (ie, BP Ͻ160/95 mm Hg). Most persons, whether nonhypertensive, unaware hypertensive, or aware hypertensive, had good basic knowledge related to hypertension determinants and consequences, possibly an effect of a nationwide cardiovascular disease prevention program over the last years. However, favorable outcome expectation, positive attitudes, and appropriate practices for hypertension and relevant healthy lifestyles were found in smaller proportions of participants, with little difference between aware hypertensives, unaware hypertensives, and nonhypertensives. Furthermore, hypertensive persons with other concurrent cardiovascular risk factors affecting the overall heart risk knew well the detrimental effects of these other factors but reported making little actual change to control them (particularly regarding overweight and sedentary habits). These data point to the need to maximize the efficiency of hypertension prevention and control programs so that delay in achieving effective hypertension control is minimized in countries experiencing recent emergence of hypertension as a major public health problem. (Hypertension. 1998;31:1136-1145.)Key Words: knowledge, attitudes, practices Ⅲ developing countries Ⅲ epidemiology Ⅲ Africa Ⅲ Indian Ocean islands H ypertension has become a significant problem in many developing countries experiencing epidemiological transition from communicable to noncommunicable chronic diseases.1-3 The emergence of hypertension and other CVDs as a public health problem in these countries is strongly related to the aging of the populations, urbanization, and socioeconomic changes favoring sedentary habits, obesity, alcohol consumption, and salt intake, among others.4,5 A cost-effective use of health services to control these emerging chronic diseases is particularly needed in developing countries because resources are limited and generally must be shared with the concurrent burden of persistent communicable diseases.In this context, hypertension presents a major area of intervention because it is a frequent condition and is amenable to control through both nonpharmacological lifestyle factors and pharmacological treatment. Pharmacological treatment for hypertension has been shown to be effective in decreasing BP and subsequently cardiovascular events, 6 althoug...

Evaluation of the Clinical Pharmacist Role in a Health Care Team; a Comparative Approach

“…In the observational group p=0.0010*** (s), in the interventional group p=<0.0001*** (s). These results coincide with the Line Aubert et al 9 For Stroke patients KAP questionnaire consists of 23 questions for these questions answers were taken from the patients and significance was calculated, scores as follows (Figure 3 and 4). In the observational group p=0.0007*** (s).…”

Prevalence and assessment of knowledge and practice towards hypertension among Bahir Dar City communities, 2016: A community based cross-sectional study

“…However, study done in India (Pragnesh, 2014) and Seychelles (Aubert et al, 1998) found that the majority had good knowledge and greater than 96% in Seychelles and 80.4%, India, of the participant knew that obesity was associated with hypertension, but in our study only 62.9% of the participant mentioned it as a risk factor. This discrepancy could be explained by the type of participant included in the study.…”

Lifestyle Pattern and Hypertension Related Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Diagnosed Patients of Hypertension Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…6 Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is a crucial element of hypertension control, but little information is available from developing countries where hypertension has lately been recognized as a major health problem. 7 Hypertension and its complications can be controlled by modifying lifestyle related risk factors, and generating awareness about these risk factors among hypertensive patients. So this study was planned to assess the life style pattern, knowledge, attitude and practices related to hypertension among diagnosed patients of hypertension attending a tertiary care hospital.…”