Abstract P089: Health Facility Readiness For Hypertension Management In Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

Background: Hypertension continues to be a growing health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The health systems in SSA are ill-equipped to manage patients with hypertension. The current study explored hypertension service readiness at the health facilities in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods: We purposively recruited 11 (out of over 200) health facilities that provide hypertension services in Kumasi, Ghana. At each facility, we administered the Hypertension Service Availability and Readiness tool. The main outcome of interest was hypertension service readiness regarding the availability of hypertension guidelines, provider and their training, equipment, diagnostics, and anti-hypertensive medications. We used descriptive analysis and reported counts (%) and median (Interquartile Range). Results: Five facilities (46%) were of medium size with 50-100 bed-capacity, four (36%) were government-owned, five (46%) treated patients with hypertension in a hypertension clinic while the rest managed them in the general outpatient department (Table). At least one provider had received cardiovascular disease training at 7 (64%) facilities. Hypertension-related patient education materials and treatment guidelines were available in 6 (54%) and 8 (72%) facilities, respectively. Also, 7 (64%) had all of the first-line anti-hypertensive medications (as stipulated in Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines) available. Conclusion: We identified gaps in provider training, patient education, and first-line medication availability related to hypertension in Ghana. This study calls for policy changes to improve hypertension management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.