Paper
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The relationship between patients' knowledge on primary hypertension and compliance with sodium-restricted diet therapy in the Kingdom of Swaziland, Southern Africa
Faye A. Gary, EdD, RN, FAAN, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA, Tengetile R. Mathunjwa, PhD, CM, RN, Faculty of Health Sciencees, University of Swaziland, Mbabane, Swaziland, and Hossein Yarandi, Center for Health Research, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
| Learning Objective #1: identify the relationship between hypertension and compliance with a sodium-restricted diet. |
| Learning Objective #2: develop strategies to improve compliance with sodium-restricted diet therapy. |
Background: A major health concern in the Kingdom of Swaziland [KS], Southern Africa is the increasing number of individuals with primary hypertension. Hypertension is an asymptomatic, chronic, and debilitating condition; however, it can be prevented and successfully treated. This malady is one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the world, and is responsible for mortality in about 360 million people. In the KS, there is an annual increase in hypertension of about 18% in the adult population.
Objective: This descriptive-correlational study assessed individuals diagnosed with hypertension, and the relationship between their knowledge about hypertension and compliance with sodium-restricted diet therapy.
Methods: The systematic probability sampling method was utilized to obtain a sample of (n = 90) hypertensive patients receiving healthcare at the outpatient clinic in KS. The sample consisted of 74 females and 16 males, 35-55 years of age.
Results: Males and females evidenced knowledge deficits about hypertension. Their knowledge scores on hypertension were 58%, and their compliance with sodium-restricted diet therapy was 64% among both groups. The level of self-care was lower among the females than the males. Among both groups, knowledge did not always translate into self-care behaviors. In KS, the women are more prone to provide high quality healthcare for their men, but neglect their own health needs.
Conclusions: Implications for practice and further research are delineated in this presentation.