4
views
0
recommends
+1 Recommend
0 collections
    0
    shares
      • Record: found
      • Abstract: found
      • Article: not found

      Knowledge of risk factors for hypertension in a rural Indian population

      research-article

      Read this article at

      ScienceOpenPublisherPMC
      Bookmark
          There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

          Abstract

          Objective

          To study knowledge of risk factors and consequences of hypertension in a rural population in South India.

          Methods

          This is a community-based study conducted among adults of a rural population in the Rishi Valley, India. Residents of randomised rural villages were invited to participate in a study of hypertension. We obtained measures of blood pressure, height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and questionnaire-based information on knowledge about hypertension, sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviours. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with knowledge of risk factors for hypertension (knowledge of ≥2 risk factors).

          Results

          The study comprised 641 adults; 132 aware and 218 unaware of their hypertension, and 291 with normal blood pressure. Only 31% of participants knew that hypertension adversely affects an individual’s health and 7% knew the benefits of treating hypertension. Almost a third (30%) of those aware of their hypertensive status, and 48% overall, did not know any of the risk factors for hypertension. Being aware of one’s hypertensive status (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.44 to 4.39), being treated for hypertension, male sex, younger age, having some schooling, abdominal obesity and physical inactivity were associated with better knowledge of risk factors for hypertension.

          Conclusion

          Knowledge of risk factors and consequences of hypertension in this disadvantaged population was poor. There was better knowledge of risk factors in some, but not all, people who were aware of having hypertension. Screening and targeted educational programmes are warranted in this population to improve health behaviours and reduce the consequences of hypertension.

          Related collections

          Author and article information

          Journal
          Heart Asia
          Heart Asia
          heartasia
          heartasia
          Heart Asia
          BMJ Publishing Group (BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR )
          1759-1104
          2019
          23 February 2019
          : 11
          : 1
          : e011136
          Affiliations
          [1 ] departmentMedicine , Monash University , Clayton, Victoria, Australia
          [2 ] departmentPhysiology , Monash University , Clayton, Victoria, Australia
          [3 ] Rishi Valley Rural Health Centre , Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India
          [4 ] departmentSchool of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment , Monash University , Clayton, Victoria, Australia
          [5 ] departmentBiostatistics , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama, USA
          Author notes
          [Correspondence to ] Dr Doreen Busingye, Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; doreen.busingye@ 123456monash.edu
          Author information
          http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4744-9070
          Article
          PMC6454325 PMC6454325 6454325 heartasia-2018-011136
          10.1136/heartasia-2018-011136
          6454325
          31031832
          f0cc3ede-b9a7-4547-90eb-b9549969b79e
          © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
          History
          : 16 October 2018
          : 22 January 2019
          : 04 February 2019
          Funding
          Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000925, National Health and Medical Research Council;
          Award ID: 1005740
          Award ID: 1040030
          Award ID: 1042600
          Award ID: 1061457
          Funded by: Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship;
          Award ID: 1061457
          Categories
          Original Research

          developing countries,knowledge,hypertension,risk factors,rural

          Comments

          Comment on this article