Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine nutrition knowledge and dietary practices of hypertensive adults attending hypertensive clinics at Day Hospitals in the Cape Metropole. Ten Day Hospitals were randomly selected from a total of 31 Day Hospitals and the first participants attending the hypertension clinics per day were recruited. A total of 85 participants were evaluated. The weight, height, waist and hip circumference of each participant was measured, as well as their blood pressure. Knowledge of dietary intake was obtained by completing a questionnaire, during an interview with the patient. Knowledge regarding salt usage indicated that a large percentage (34.1%) of participants believed that flavour enhancers like Aromat or Fondor could safely be used instead of table salt. Furthermore, 23.5% reported that tinned and smoked meat or fish have a low sodium (salt) content. Fruit and vegetables were perceived as having a positive effect on hypertension by 74.1% of participants. However, only 15% of the group knew that the recommendation for their usage was five or more servings per day. Only 12.9% of participants in this study had a normal weight (body mass index (BMI) < 25), 25.9% were overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9) and 61.2% were obese (BMI > or =30); 84.7% recognized the association between obesity and hypertension. A large waist circumference (> 88 cm in women; 102 cm in men) was found in 61.2% of participants, however, only 18.2% of black men had such a measurement. Uncontrolled blood pressure readings (> 140/90 mm Hg) were found in 61.2% of these patients at the hypertension clinics.
Highlights
Hypertension is the most commonly reported chronic ill ness among all SouthAfricans and results in end-organ damage such as heart failure, stroke and renal disease (Opie, 1995:37)
Among South Africans 15 years and older, the prevalence of hypertension is highest in white males (38%) followed by Asian men (29.9%) and lowest in black rural adults; 18.6 and 21.2% for men and women re spectively (Department of Health, 2002:212)
Future in creases can be anticipated among black South Africans, in older black women where obesity is a predis posing risk factor
Summary
Hypertension is the most commonly reported chronic ill ness among all SouthAfricans and results in end-organ damage such as heart failure, stroke and renal disease (Opie, 1995:37). One of the concerns with regard to patients with hyperten sion is the finding that many patients do not manage and control their blood pressure optimally. Daniels etal., (2000:1206) attributed poor service delivery as being a major factor, which contributes to poor con trol of blood pressure in patients at primary health-care level. One of the critical roles of primary health care in the management of blood pressure and pre vention of stroke is education of the patient. Health-care professionals at all levels should be involved and should continually reinforce the message that stroke can largely be prevented by the control of blood pressure and by main taining a satisfactory body weight and following a healthy lifestyle (Daniels e ta l, 2000:1206). In the present study we attempted to identify the dietary knowledge and prac tices of patients relating to their hypertension and to their weight status
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