Key result
Unemployed or student status is linked to ~2.8-fold higher odds of good hypertension preventive behaviors.
Why the study?
Unhealthy lifestyles expose young adults aged 18-34 years in low- and middle-income countries including Myanmar to hypertension, yet studies examining hypertension preventive behaviours and their associated factors in this age group were scarce.
Cross-Sectional (n=270)
Identifies that just over half of young adults in Myanmar practice good hypertension preventive behaviors, driven by male sex, student/unemployed status, high perceived vulnerability, and low response cost.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not yet change clinical approaches to hypertension prevention; leaves open whether Protection Motivation Theory predictors generalize beyond this cross-sectional sample.
Hypertension is a global health issue, especially among in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) including Myanmar. Young adults (18 – 34 years) are affected due to unhealthy lifestyles, conversely, practising preventive behaviours can mitigate risks. However, there is a dearth in the number of studies regarding preventive behaviours in this age group. This study aimed to investigate the preventive behaviours of hypertension and its associated factors among Myanmar young adults by applying the protection motivation theory (PMT). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 270 young adults, using the two-stage cluster sampling. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and stepwise multiple logistic regression with a significance level of P-value <0.05. Good level of preventive behaviours practice was observed in more than half of the participants (54.8%). Significant determinants influencing preventive behaviours were males (AOR: 1.78, CI: 1.01-3.13); unemployed young adults or students (AOR: 2.75, CI: 1.05-7.22); young adults with high perceived vulnerability (AOR: 2.41, CI: 1.40-4.13), and those with low response cost (AOR: 2.33, CI: 1.35-4.05). All four factors predicted preventive behaviours at 65.5%. A nationwide program should be implemented emphasizing health promotion interventions to reduce barriers among young women. Multisectoral collaboration to improve access to healthy food choices, infrastructure for physical activity, and use of artificial intelligence for health promotion practices should be strengthened.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Oo et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension prevention (n=270). Sociodemographic and protection motivation theory (PMT) factors (male sex, unemployed/student status, high perceived vulnerability, low response cost) was evaluated on Good level of hypertension preventive behaviours practice (AOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.05-7.22, p=<0.05). Male sex, unemployed/student status, high perceived vulnerability, and low response cost predicted good hypertension preventive behaviours.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: