Knowledge, Attitudes and Life-style Practices of Hypertensive Patients in a Sub-urban Nigerian Community

The goal of this qualitative phenomenological survey was to learn more about hypertension patients' knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and lifestyle habits in order to better understand their health and treatment needs. A self-structured questionnaire and a lengthy interview were used to assess a cohort of 108 hypertensives who were chosen at random. Males were assessed in greater numbers than females, with 60 (55.6%) outnumbering girls, 48 (44.4%). Their age range was 35 to 80 years (mean = 59.05 ± 9.06 years), with 56 to 60 years being the median age group (24.1 percent ). Sixty-six (61%) recognized htn indicated high blood pressure (BP), while 22 (20%) felt it meant much thinking and worrying, and 57 (53%) thought it was hereditary. mean = 59.05 ± 9.06 yearsForty-three (40%) felt it was caused by malevolent spirits, 32 (30%) believed it was caused by bad food or poisoning. A few (18%) knew some risk factors. Headache, restlessness, palpitation, increased pulse of the superficial temporal artery, and "internal heat" were among the symptoms attributed to htn, but 80 (74 percent) said BP testing confirmed the diagnosis. Despite the fact that 98 (90.7%) thought the condition indicated substantial morbidity, only 36 (33.3%) adhered to treatment and even fewer exercised lifestyle change. Thirty-two percent of people said they use at least one antihypertensive medicine. Patients' attitudes toward therapy were influenced by psychosocial factors such as sadness and anxiety, fear of addiction, and unpleasant pharmacological side effects. We find that patients in Auchi have little awareness of hypertension (htn) and have negative attitudes toward treatment. Patient education, motivation, and public awareness are all necessary. It is suggested that more studies with larger sample sizes and wider geographical spread be conducted using standardized methods, in order to comprehensively assess the htn knowledge, attitudes and life-style practices of Nigerian hypertensives.