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Knowledge And Perception Of Hypertension And It’s Management Among Clients/patients
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However, some studies have
been conducted on the knowledge of hypertension in many parts of the
world including Nigeria. The literature reviewed showed that related
studies were conducted among pregnant women, workers in banking
industry, hypertensive patients, primary care patients, urban elderly
and in rural communities, and in different countries. Incidentally,
there are no studies, to the best knowledge of the researcher that have
been carried out in Auchi in Edo State to determine the level of
knowledge of hypertension among adults. In view of the above, the need
arose to determine if adults in Auchi in Edo State have adequate
knowledge of hypertension. This was the task of the present study.
Despite
effective therapies and lifestyle interventions, optimal prevention of
hypertension remains very health challenge to health professionals
especially in most developing countries like Nigeria. Kadiri (2005)
noted that 4.3 million Nigerians are suffering from this silent killer
disease called hypertension. The inability to adequately prevent or
manage hypertension in Nigeria can be attributed to inadequate knowledge
of hypertension. Thus reaching the healthy people vision 2020 objective
may be difficult if necessary actions are not taken to prevent this
disease. If health promotion programmes are to be appropriate and
effective, adults’ knowledge of hypertension need to be identified.
Therefore, the researcher was motivated to determine the level of
knowledge of hypertension possessed by adults in Auchi in Edo State.
This became necessary against the backdrop that identification of gaps
in adults’ knowledge of hypertension is capable of aiding the
development of adequate information to enhance the knowledgeand
perception of hypertension and its management among
clients/patients.Therefore, as part of a quality assessment to improve
the management outcome of hypertensive patients, we evaluated by means
of a descriptive, cross-sectional qualitative phenomenological survey,
hypertensive patients’ knowledge, perception, attitudes and life- style
practices in Auchi, Nigeria.
1.3 Purpose of Study
The
general purpose of this research work is to assess the knowledge and
perception of hypertension and its management among patients. The
specific objectives include;
1. To evaluateknowledge, perception, attitudes and life- style practicesof hypertensive patients in Auchi.
2. To describe the barriers to effective management of hypertension.
3. To determine the level of knowledge and perception of hypertension and its management possessed by hypertensive patients.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What is the knowledge, perception, attitudes and life- style practices of hypertensive patients in Auchi?
2. What are the barriers to effective management of hypertension?
3. What is the level of knowledge and perception of hypertension and its management possessed by hypertensive patients?
1.5 Significance of Study
The
results of this study will be useful to health educators, medical and
paramedical officers, public health officers, counsellors, media
educators, researchers, curriculum planners, government and adults in
many ways. The study may help to develop a positive regard towards
hypertension. The ministry of health may benefit from the study by
discovering a gap in knowledge of the population, and emphasize
strategies to teach the adult population on how to prevent the risk
factors. It may also be useful to other researchers to carry out this
study in areas where disease prevention measures and health promotion
are needed with regards to hypertension.
Answering the research
questions associated with the research project offers insight into
managing hypertension by revealing an understanding of individual’s
health related knowledge, perceptions and behaviours.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The
study covered all the local government areas in Auchi in Edo State. The
study was restricted to adults between the ages of fifty years and
above, and who were found within the urban and rural areas. The study
was concerned with determining the level of knowledge and perception of
hypertension and its management among patients. This consisted of the
concept of hypertension, signs and symptoms, risk factors and preventive
measures of hypertension. The demographic factors of age, gender,
location and level of education as they relate to knowledge of
hypertension were all explained.
1.7 Limitation of Study
The
researcher faced a number of restraints in the course of carrying out
this research project. They include; time constraints, financial
constraints, uncooperative attitude of some of the respondents. These
constituted limitations of this research project as some of the
respondents did not return their questionnaire. The researcher only made
do with responses of the respondents whose questionnaire were correctly
completed and returned.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure, a state of great psychological stress.
Hypertension
Management: Hypertension is managed using lifestyle modification and
antihypertensive medications. Hypertension is usually treated to achieve
a blood pressure of below 140/90 mmHg to 160/100 mmHg.
Knowledge:
facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education;
the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
Perception:
Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of
sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented
information, or the environment.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Hypertension is an important public health challenge at Auchi Nigeria. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological survey was to determine hypertensive patients’ knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and life-style practices so as to optimize their health and treatment needs. We examined a cohort of 108 randomly selected hypertensive by means of a self-structured questionnaire and a detailed interview. Analysis was by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and chi- square was use ... Continue reading---
