Predictors of blood pressure levels, knowledge and practices of adult hypertensives attending a Secondary Health Care Centre in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction and aim. The prevalence of hypertension is increasing with accompanying poor control. The aim of this study was to assess the predictors of knowledge and practices of adult hypertensives. Material and method. The study was a prospective (before and after) study with health education as the intervention. A simple random sampling technique with computer-generated random numbers was used to recruit 386 patients. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regressions were used to determine the predictors of knowledge and practices. Results. Those who had tertiary education were about four times more likely to have good knowledge of hypertension than those who had secondary education (OR=0.256; 95% CI=0.106–0.617). The females were about 1.73 times more likely to have good practices of hypertension than males (OR=1.729; 95% CI=1.008–2.966). For every 1 unit increase in the body mass index, there was a statistically significant increase in diastolic blood pressure by about 0.22 units (95% CI=0.046–0.394, p=0.013). The health education had a positive impact on the blood pressure reduction. Conclusion. The predictors of knowledge of hypertension, practices of hypertensives and diastolic blood pressure were level of education, sex, and body mass index respectively.