Prevalence of hypertension and factors associated with screening uptake in Kanjongo, Nyamasheke District, Rwanda

Eléazar Ndabarora, Clemence Nishimwe, Clarte Ndikumasabo, Jean Claude Twahirwa, Jean de la Croix Muvandimwe, Elysée Hitayezu, Ezechiel Bizimana

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Abstract

Hypertension in Africa was estimated to 30.8% in 2010 with dramatic increase in some regions ranging between 36.2%-77.3% (Adeloye & Basquill, 2014). In Rwanda, the prevalence of hypertension was estimated to 15.3%, but the factors associated with screening uptake were not explored (Nahimana et al., 2017). The study objectives were: (1) to determine the prevalence of hypertension among the population attending the monthly community work” Umuganda” in a selected sector, and (2) to identify the factors associated with screening uptake. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire, the blood pressure was at the same time measured, and analytic cross-sectional design was adopted. The respondents were 383, of them 60.3% were female and 39.7% were male, aged between 18-34 years old (30.5%), 35-49 years old (39.4%), and 50 years and above (30.0%). The prevalence of hypertension was 17.5%, and 46.5% have never been tested before. The majority (96.3%) planned to get tested regularly, 95.6% perceived hypertension as a serious disease, and 64.8% perceived themselves susceptible to get hypertension. Sources of information were media (89.6%), health staff (79.4%), campaigns (73.1%), Community Health Workers (CHWs) (67.1%), and neighbors (57.7%). Reported barriers to screening were lack of information (87.5%), delay of health insurance (79.1%), lack of readiness of the health care staff (75.7%), perceived quality of health care delivery (52.2%), and the perceived cost (46.5%). Factors influencing the screening were gender (Chi-square 7.82, p=0.004), age (Chi-square 8.35, p=0.015), and occupation (Chi-square 19.53, p˂0.000). The perceived susceptibility influenced the perceived severity (Chi-square 33.51, p˂0.000), community sensitization (Chi-square 5.52, p=0.019), and perceived benefits (Chi-square 9.08, p=0.003). Hypertension prevalence was higher than the national estimates. Perceived susceptibility, community sensitization, age, gender and occupation were the key factors influencing the screening uptake. Community-based interventions to increase awareness and screening of hypertension are highly recommended.


 


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