Health Seeking and Treatment Compliance among Hypertensive Adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria
| Main Authors: | Oluwadare, Christopher T., Fasoro, Adejuwon A., Igbekoyi, Emmanuel K. |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article Journal |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
, 2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/6419419 |
Daftar Isi:
- Abstract This study investigated the health-seeking and treatment compliance of hypertensive adults in Ekiti State, located in southwest Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design with the pretested questionnaire to collect the data. Sampling involved the use of multi-stage procedures and a sample size of 430 survey respondents across two tertiary hospitals and two secondary hospitals to represent the 23 public hospitals in the State. Respondents were male or female hypertensive patients accessing treatment in the sampled health facilities contacted by exit interviews and the snowball method. The mean age of the respondents is 58 years while over 70% have a minimum of secondary school education and are married with children. The study also revealed that an overwhelming percentage of respondents are aware and knowledgeable about hypertension. Awareness of hypertension in terms of knowledge of causes, symptoms, treatment shows a range of 28% and 86%. The lowest is hypertension associated with Red meat, and the highest; is hypertension as a life-threatening disease. Health seeking practices show 93% were placed on hypertensive drugs immediately after diagnosis, 18% taken non-recommended drugs 68% attended to by medical doctors However, 31%, 24%, 8%, and 35% still used branded herbal drugs, locally produced herbs, traditional healer and spiritual therapy respectively. Generally, the level of treatment compliance was 88%. The low awareness of the relationship between food practices and hypertension and the use of unwholesome non-recommended therapy is a call for increased hospital-based and community sensitization for acceptable knowledge and treatment compliance among patients and care providers of hypertension.