Abstract:

Hypertension contributes largely to morbidity and mortality experienced from cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Studies have been conducted on hypertension among various populations in Nigeria, but only a few have provided data on hypertension-related preventive Health-Seeking Behaviour (HSB) among workers in the hospital environment. This study was conducted to determine the preventive HSB relating to hypertension among non-teaching staff of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI).

A total of 315 non-teaching staff University College Hospital was involved in the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents’ preventive HSB were assessed through preventive practices. Respondents’ attitudes towards preventive behaviour were measured on 20-point scale. Using SPSS, Data were analysed via descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression.

Preventive behaviour by respondents included non-consumption of alcohol (65.1%), regular BP check-up (46.3%), regular exercise (41.9%) and low salt intake 47.3%. Few respondents (39.3%) had positive attitude towards preventive HSB. Non-alcohol consumption was 4 times more likely to be observed (OR: 4.2; 95% CI 2.6-6.9) while exercise was twice less likely (OR: 2.1; 95% CI 0.3-0.7) by the respondents. Respondents’ educational qualifications and administrative rank were significantly associated with preventive HSB (p<0.05). Less than half (43.8%) of the respondents had low knowledge of hypertension prevention (screening/early detection; 14.9%).

Although more than half of the respondents do not consume alcohol, other aspects of preventive behaviours practices were relatively low which therefore calls for effective work-place health promotion and education programme for behavioural change towards prevention of hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension, Hypertension prevention, Hypertension risk factors, Preventive Health- seeking behaviour, University Non-teaching staff, Hospital environment.

References:

[1].     Adeloye D, Basquill C, Aderemi AV, Thompson JY, Obi FA (2015). An estimate of the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hypertens 2015; 33: 230–242. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000000413 [PubMed].

[2].     Amaghionyeodiwe LA (2008). Determinants of the choice of health care provider in Nigeria. Health. Health Care Management Science; 11 (3): 215-227.

[3].     Danaei G., Finucane M. M., JLin. K. et al. (2011), “National, regional, and global trends in systolic blood pressure since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 786 country-years and 5·4 million participants. Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Blood Pressure),” The Lancet, vol. 377, no. 9765, pp. 568–577, 2011. View at Publisher · View at Google Scholar · View at Scopus.

[4].     Godfrey, B.S. Iyalomhe and Sarah I. Iyalomhe (2010). Hypertension-related knowledge, attitudes and life-style practices among hypertensive patients in a sub-urban Nigerian community Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 2(4), pp.71-77.

[5].     John Joseph Tesha (2006) Knowledge of stroke among hypertensive patients in selected hospitals in the Tanga Region, Tanzania Retrieved on June 2010, available online http://www3.who.int/icf/onlinebrowser/icf.cfm.

[6].     Kasl, S. V., and Cobb, S. (1966). "Health Behavior, Illness Behavior, and Sick Role Behavior." Archives of Environmental Health 12:246–266,531–541.

[7].     Kayima J, Wanyenze RK, Katamba A, Leontsini E, Nuwaha F. (2013). Hypertension awareness, treatment and control in Africa: a systematic review. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2013; 13:54 doi: 10.1186/1471-2261-13-54 [PMC free article] [PubMed].

[8].     Khor, GL (2001) cardiovascular epidemiology in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr; 10:76–80.

[9].     Lawes C. M., Hoorn S. V., and Rodgers A., (2008) “Global burden of blood-pressure-related disease, 2001,” The Lancet, vol. 371, no. 9623, pp. 1513–1518, 2008. View at Publisher · View at Google Scholar · View at Scopus.

[10].  Lurie P, Hintzn P and Lowe R A. (1995) Socioeconomic obstacles to HIV prevention and treatment in developing countries: the roles of the International Monetary Fund.

[11].  Mlunde Linda (2007) Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Risk Factors for Hypertension in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam DMSJ Vol. 14 No.2.

[12].  Oluranti B. Familoni, S. Abayomi Ogun and A. Olutoyin Aina (2004). Knowledge and Awareness of Hypertension among Patients with Systemic Hypertension. Journal of the National Medical Association Vol. 96, No. 5.

[13].  Sule SS, Ijadunola KT, Onayade AA, Fatusi AO, Soetan RO and Connell FA (2008). A study on the utilization of primary health care facilities in a rural community, Nigerian journal of medicine; vol 17 (1): 98-106.

[14].  Westberg, J., and Jason, H. (1996). "Influencing Health Behavior." In Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice, eds. S. H. Woolfe, S. Jonas, and R. Lawrence. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins.

[15].  World Health Organization, (2002). Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. The world health report Geneva.

[16].  World Health Organization, (2013) “Global brief on hypertension,” 2013, http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/79059/1/WHO_DCO_WHD_2013.2_eng.pdf?ua=1.