Knowledge, Practice, and associated factors on the Prevention of Hypertension Complications among Patients with Hypertension at Arsi University, Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital, south-east Ethiopia

Background Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular complications globally. However, the knowledge and practices regarding its prevention remain crucial for managing associated risks. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, practice, and associated factors regarding the prevention of hypertension complications among hypertensive patients at Arsi University, Asella Teaching, and Referral Hospital Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 hypertensive patients attending follow-up treatment. Systematic random sampling was employed to select participants, and data was collected using a well-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with good practices for hypertension complication prevention. Results Of the 302 participants, 190 (62.9%) had good knowledge, and 149 (49.3%) had good practices regarding hypertension complication prevention. Factors significantly associated with good prevention practices included being female (AOR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.96), tertiary education (AOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 2.33, 5.47), having diabetes (AOR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.16), a history of stroke (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.26), and having good knowledge (AOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.89, 3.51). Conclusion The study found that while hypertensive patients exhibited good knowledge about hypertension complications, their practices for preventing such complications were moderate. Factors such as gender, education, comorbidities, and knowledge were significantly associated with better prevention practices. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve prevention practices, particularly for those with lower knowledge or additional health conditions.