Non-Medical Management of Hypertension and Its associated Factors among Hypertensive Patients Attending Public Hospitals in Hawassa City, Ethiopia

Background

Hypertension is a major health issue, affecting the young population worldwide. A non-medical management approach can decrease the effects of high blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients. Even though NMM is one of the most effective ways to prevent & control hypertension, only little emphasis has been given to it compared with treating hypertension with medication. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the practice of non-medical management of hypertension and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending selected public hospitals in Hawassa City, Sidama, Ethiopia.

Method

Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from April-May 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants, and data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was entered into Epi-Data version 4.2 and exported into SPSS version 26 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the association between dependent variables and independent variables.

Result

The study revealed that 62.3 % of participants had good practice of non-medical management of hypertension (95%CI: 56.5-67.3). Additionally, 74.7 % had good knowledge, (AOR=2.054; 95% CI: 1.180-3.575, P-value=0.011) and 65% exhibited favourable attitudes towards non-medical management of hypertension (AOR =2.368; 95% CI: 1.354-4.141, p-value=0.003). Factors such as good knowledge, rural residence (AOR=1.939 95% CI, 0.943, 3.987, P-value=0.072) and having a family history of hypertension (AOR=1.764; 95% CI: 1.073-2.899, p-value=0.025) were statistically significant in association with non-medical management practice.

Conclusion

This study found that nearly two-thirds of participants demonstrated good practice of non-medical management of Hypertension. Good knowledge, favourable attitude towards non-medical management, rural residence and having a family history of hypertension were significantly associated with non-medical management of hypertension.

Therefore, public health interventions focusing on non-medical management of hypertension and strengthening NCD control programs are essential. Moreover, the provision of targeted Health education and behavioural change communication to patients can improve disease knowledge and improve Non-medical management practices.