Self–reported health status and Blood Pressure medication use among persons living with hypertension in Kenya

BACKGROUND: While existing studies established an association between self-reported health status and healthcare service utilization, its association with Blood Pressure (BP) medication use among persons living with hypertension remains under-explored. This study examines the association between self-reported health status and BP medication use among persons living with hypertension in Kenya. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional analysis utilizing data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). The primary outcome was BP medication use, while the main independent variable was self-reported health status. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association between self-reported health status and BP medication use. RESULTS: Among a total of 1,324 women and 479 men included in the analysis, only 32.0% of women and 36.4% of men reported consistent BP medication use. Women who reported moderate or poor health were significantly more likely to use BP medication compared to those who perceived their health as good (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4-2.4; aOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.0) respectively. However, no significant association between self-reported health status and BP medication use was found among men. Additionally, women aged 20-24 years (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9) and men aged 25-34 years (aOR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.06-0.9) were less likely to use BP medication. Furthermore, women (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.8) and men (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.8) with diabetes were more likely to use BP medication. CONCLUSION: Self-reported health status plays a significant role in BP medication use among women. Women who perceive their health as good may underestimate their risk and deprioritize their BP medication use. These insights emphasize the need for targeted health education and behavior change interventions that consider gender dynamics to improve hypertension management.