Assessment of Knowledge, Self-care Practice, and Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients the Public Hospital of Addis Ababa Ethiopia 2016 G.C.

Abstract

Background: Patients with hypertension are a high risk of cardiovascular disease. An increase of 10 mmHg (more than normal) in diastolic blood pressure leads to a relatively increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease by 37%. Moreover, hypertension may impair vision. The symptoms range from blurred vision to blindness. A lack of knowledge about hypertension negatively influences patients’ awareness and behaviors and is a major obstacle in controlling hypertension. The general objective of the study was to assess the overall level of knowledge, self-care practices, and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in adult cardiac and renal referral clinics in public hospitals Addis Ababa city Administration Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public health hospitals. The final sample size was 384, which was proportionally allocated to each of the institutions and systematic random sampling was used to select study units that were part of the study. Results: The results of the study showed that (43.6%) of the study participants had good knowledge about hypertensive self-care. A strong association was observed between knowledge about hypertension and educational status, family history of hypertension, place of residence; and occupational status of the study participants. About (51.5%) of the study participants had good self-care practices towards hypertension. However, there was a significant association between self-care practices, place of residence and educational status of the study participants. Study participants who had secondary and above educational status had good self-care practice than participants had no formal education. Conclusion: Despite the important role of knowledge and self-care practices in the management of hypertension is recognized to be useful and effective in achieving hypertension control and preventing its complication. The findings of this study confirmes that self-care practices was accomplished as recommended by the majority of respondents, but knowledge was more problematic.