DETERMINANTS OF HYPERTENSION IN RURAL AREA OF CHANDPUR DISTRICT

This study was carried out to assess the level of awareness about hypertension among hypertensives leaving in Ashikathi and Kollanpur union of Chandpur district. A total of 146 adult hypertensive patients were selected conveniently. Data were collected by face to face interview using a questionnaire. Present study revealed that among 146 hypertensive patients 65.1% were suffering from hypertension for less than 1 year and 61.6% respondents blood pressure is within normal limit. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 134.25 + 15.58 and 84.08 + 8.91 respectively. More than fifty six percent respondents had fair knowledge about the meaning of hypertension. Regarding the risk factor of hypertension 52.7% had fair knowledge. Study findings reflected fair knowledge in 65.1% about signs and symptoms, 45.9% about complication, 47.3 about prognosis, 67.1 about their own blood pressure status and 53.4% about prevention. Regarding self-care practice 50.0% were taking their medicines regularly and 45.9% checked their blood pressure within 3 months. Continuity correction and Fisher’s Exact test with two tailed significant showed that occupation, education and marital status correlated with hypertension awareness. To measure the strength of association between different variables multiple logistic regression analysis was done.