Association of Socio Demographic Factors and Blood Pressure Control in Patients attending a Tertiary Health Facility in North Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract 
Hypertension is an overwhelming global challenge, it is high in Nigeria and there is generally low level of awareness. The mainstay of management is pharmacotherapy, interventions such as lifestyle and diet are often overlooked.  Poor knowledge, attitude and practices of lifestyle and dietary modifications are major challenges to managing hypertension. This study was conducted to assess patient’s knowledge, attitude and practices of Lifestyle and diet. A multiphasic interventional study was adopted, which is a questionnaire based study with sections on knowledge, attitude and practices of lifestyle and diet. The pretested interviewer’s questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention. The intervention however included counselling on the benefits of 
lifestyle and dietary modification on clinic days and through reminder phone calls.286 patients with hypertension were interviewed using the questionnaire Out of the 286 participants, majority (51.7%) were females and the larger age group are 40-49. Knowledge, attitude and practices of lifestyle and diet improved after intervention. Scores of knowledge attitude and practice were compared on the basis of Wilcoxon signed rank test before and after the intervention. The results of this study indicates that patients need more advice and counselling on lifestyle and dietary modifications. Therefore, clinicians and health educators should give adequate and relevant information on the value of lifestyle and dietary modifications in the control of blood pressure.