Abstract
Hypertension is a silent killer cardiovascular disease and is becoming a concerned public health challenges particularly in developing countries up to date. The problem is significant particularly where there is weak health system like sub-Saharan Africa. The global prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults aged 18years and over was around 22% in 2014, and the number of people living with hypertension is predicted to be 1.56 billion at 2025, increasing by 60%. Reducing the incidence of hypertension through implementation of behavioral risk factor reduction is essential through creation of awareness about the knowledge and practice associated with hypertension. This study aims to determine the proportion of people with hypertension, and to assess knowledge and practice towards hypertension among Bahir Dar city Administration communities. A community based cross sectional study was conducted on April, 2016 among Bahir Dar city administration communities with age greater than or equal to 20 years old. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 388 study participants. Data was collected after oral informed consent secured for all study participants. Chi square test was done to see whether there is an association between the predictor and outcome variable. The mean age of study participant was 38.24(±17.2 SD), 46.5% of them were female. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 16.45%. The percentage of knowledge and practice score of the respondent with poor score level was 71.8 and 84.3%, respectively. Furthermore, socio-demographic characteristics like education, occupation and health information concerning hypertension were associated with level of knowledge and practice toward hypertension. Two hundred seventy five (71.8%) and three hundred twenty three (84.3%) of the respondents had poor knowledge and poor practice in the prevention of hypertension respectively. As part of prevention programme, regarding hypertension health education should be planned and incorporated by Federal Ministry of Health along with other health topics provided by health extension workers. Furthermore, mass media like radio should have focus towards cardiovascular non-communicable diseases like hypertension. Key words: Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, knowledge, Bahir Dar city.
Highlights
Raised blood pressure (RBP) is a major cardiovascular (CVD) risk factor
According to the seventh report of joint national committee prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC7) HTN is defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 and a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 based on the average of two or more accurate measurement taken during two or more contact with health care provider
Thirty three percent of the participants mentioned stress as a risk factor and 53% answered that obesity is a risk factor for hypertension
Summary
Raised blood pressure (RBP) is a major cardiovascular (CVD) risk factor. The proportion of the world’s population with high blood pressure or uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) fell modestly between 1980 and 2010.because of population growth and ageing, the number of people with uncontrolled HTN has risen over the yearsInt. According to the seventh report of joint national committee prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC7) HTN is defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 and a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 based on the average of two or more accurate measurement taken during two or more contact with health care provider. It is classified as pre-hypertension which is 120 to 139 systolic and diastolic 80 to 89, stage I systolic of 140 to 159 and diastolic 90 to 99, stage II systolic of ≥160 and diastolic ≥100 (Suzanne et al, 2010)
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