Key result
Tertiary education was associated with higher odds of having good knowledge about hypertension compared to no formal education.
Why the study?
In poor communities there is lack of awareness, poor treatment, and control of hypertension, prompting an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in a rural disadvantaged community in Zimbabwe.
Cross-Sectional (n=304)
No
Lack of formal education and belief in traditional medicines are significantly associated with poor knowledge of hypertension in rural Zimbabwe, contributing to high default rates and poor control.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Education level should not yet guide interventions; leaves open whether knowledge gains improve control in similar settings.
Background Hypertension is a significant contributor to cardiovascular and renal diseases. In poor communities there is lack of awareness, poor treatment and control. However, it can be controlled by lifestyle modifications. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices with regards to hypertension in a rural disadvantaged community in Matebeleland South province of Zimbabwe. Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A pre-tested and validated interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic, awareness, treatment and control data among consenting hypertensive patients. Results 304 respondents were enrolled into the study, their mean age was 59 years and 65.4% were females. Adding salt on the table (59.8%) was a risk factor. There were strong community beliefs in managing hypertension with herbs (50.7%) and use of traditional medicines (14.5%). Knowledge on hypertension was poor with 43.8% of hypertensive patients having had a discussion with a health worker on hypertension and 64.8% believing the main case of hypertension is stress while 85.9% stated palpitations as a symptom of hypertension. Defaulter rate was high at 30.9% with 25% of those on medication not knowing whether their blood pressure control status. Odds ratio for good knowledge for secondary and tertiary education were 3.68 (95%CI: 1.61-8.41) and 7.52 (95%CI: 2.76-20.46) respectively compared to no formal education. Those that believed in herbal medicines and those that used traditional medicines were 53% (95%CI: 0.29-0.76) and 68% (95%CI: 0.29-0.76) less likely to have good knowledge compared to those who did not believe and use traditional medicines respectively. Conclusion Lack of education and poor socio-economic backgrounds were associated with poor knowledge on hypertension. Shortages of medication, poor health funding and weak health education platforms contributed to reduced awareness and control of hypertension in the community. Thus, community hypertension awareness, treatment and control needed to be upscaled.
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Chimberengwa et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=304). Tertiary education vs. No formal education was evaluated on Good knowledge of hypertension (OR 7.52, 95% CI 2.76-20.46). Tertiary education was associated with higher odds of having good knowledge about hypertension compared to no formal education.
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