The Relationship between Health Locus of Control, Knowledge and Adherence to Antihypertensive Regimen among Woman with Preeclampsi

Abstract

Pregnancies complicated by hypertension are associated with increased risk of adverse fetal, neonatal and maternal outcomes. Adherence to therapy is a potent factor in determining the success of a treatment regimen which is affected by determinant factors, high importance of it is the level of knowledge regarding health circumstance and health locus of control. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relation between knowledge, health locus of control and adherence to antihypertensive regimen among women with preeclampsia. Design a descriptive correlation methodology was used, where a convenient sample of 150 women had preeclampsia, were selected from the outpatient clinic at El Shat by Maternity University Hospital in Alexandria. Tools: two tools were used to collect data; tool1 pregnant women’s knowledge and adherence interview schedule and tool 11 multiple health Locus of Control scale. Results clarified that 39.2%of external powerful health locus of control (EPHLC) and 27.3% of internal health locus of control (IHLC) had good total score of knowledge about preeclampsia and its therapeutic regimen.in contrast 70% of women with chance health locus of control (CHLC) had poor knowledge with a statistically significant difference between them (P=0.008). In addition, women with EPHLC had the highest percentage of adherence to the antihypertensive regimen (40.4%) as compared with “IHLC” (29.4%), however women with “CHLC” had the lowest level of regimen adherence (20%), with a statistically significant difference P =0.002. A statistically significant difference was found between the different dimensions of HLC and women’s adherence to antenatal checkup. Antihypertensive medication. Urine & hematological analysis and blood pressure checkup in favor of external powerful others health locus of control P= <0.05. In conclusions, pregnant women who adopted external powerful others' health locus of control was significantly had more knowledge and more adherents to the antihypertensive regimen than those who adopted internal and external chance health locus of control. Thus, researcher recommended for Articulating health educational programs based on the health locus of control beliefs for mothers using health promotion models that emphasize on (definition, signs, and symptoms, causes, complication on the mother and fetus) to improve adherence to the antihypertensive regimen.