Impact of Health Education Intervention On Knowledge And Prevalence Of Hypertension Among Market Traders In Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adult populations due to complications arising from late detection and poor blood pressure control. Health education has been proven to be an effective strategy in prevention and control of hypertension. However, it’s effectiveness among informal sector workers is under-explored. This study assessed the effect of health education on knowledge of hypertension and its prevalence among market traders in Southeast Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria using a non-randomized experimental study design comprising an intervention arm and a control arm. Systematic random sampling was used to select 376 adult market traders into the study. Baseline data were collected on participants’ knowledge of hypertension using pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and on their blood pressure status. The intervention group received health education on risk factors, complications, treatment, prevention and early detection of hypertension, while the control group did not. A post-study assessment was carried out after six months using the same study instruments. Bi-variate and multivariate analyses were carried out and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 Results: The proportion of traders in the intervention group with good knowledge of hypertension increased from 20.7% to 80.7% post intervention (p<0.001); the difference in the control group was not statistically significant. Prevalence of hypertension decreased by 9.8% (p<0.001) from the baseline value of 38.8% in the intervention group but increased in the control group. Predictors of hypertension included having good knowledge of hypertension (AOR: 0.4; CI: 0.2-0.9), being ≥40years (AOR: 2.9; CI: 1.3-6.4), and being single or unmarried (AOR: 2.4; CI: 1.1–5.9) Conclusions: Blood pressure education intervention was effective in improving knowledge of hypertension and reducing prevalence of hypertension. This demonstrates the need to regularly educate market traders on the risk factors, complications, treatment, prevention and early detection of high blood pressure.

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“…Mean age of traders in this study is similar to that of Eze et al, (2020) on impact of health education intervention on knowledge and prevalence of hypertension among retirees in southeast Nigeria. But it is lower than what reported in their experimental study in Nigeria.…”

“…Preventative practices of experimental group rose significantly after following the intervention. This shows that a model-based educational intervention can influence adults' heath habits and self-care practices as shown by studies conducted by and Eze, et al (2020) in Nigeria. However, findings of Babaee et al ( 2014) contradict this finding.…”

“…Hypertension is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, chronic kidney disease and dementia among others (Lackland & Weber 2015;Lau, et al 2017). It is currently affecting over one billion people worldwide with nearly 26% of adult population being affected (Eze et al, 2020;WHO 2019). United Nations Sustainable Development Goal and political declaration on reducing mortality related to non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030 and promotion of enabling, safe, and healthy working environments for workers seem unattainable in Africa because most workers are employed in informal sector and lack adequate access to structured occupational health programs and services (Ahaneku, 2011).…”

“…One in four market traders are undiagnosed of hypertension and asymptomatic. Majority of them are not aware of their condition until clinical manifestation of its complications (Eze et al, 2020;Vincent-Onabajo, et al, 2017;Mills et al, 2016). Most traders live sedentary lifestyle and eat foods rich in high salt and fat at work.…”

Knowledge Level of Hypertension among Pre-Hypertensive Market Traders in Lagos State

“…However, data suggest that the majority of people with hypertension, particularly the elderly, are unaware, and this increases the risk of serious consequences (Adeloye et al, 2015;Mills et al, 2016). This non-communicable disease accounts for approximately 7.1 million deaths per year, and ranks third in terms of disability adjusted life years (Eze et al, 2020).…”