Health seeking behaviour and self-care among hypertensive and diabetics at risk of CKD in Buea, Cameroon

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a major public health concern in Cameroon, particularly among individuals with hypertension and diabetes, who face significant barriers to effective disease management. Aim: This prospective cohort study aimed to assess CKD awareness, healthcare-seeking behaviours, and self-care management practices among hypertensive and/or diabetic patients at risk of CKD. Setting: The study was conducted from September 2022 to April 2024 among 400 participants attending four healthcare facilities in the Buea Health District, Cameroon. Methods: Structured questionnaires collected data on socio-demographics, clinical status, CKD knowledge and self-care adherence, with logistic regression analysing associations between risk factors and outcomes. Results: The study revealed alarming gaps in CKD knowledge, with only 35% of participants recognising hypertension and diabetes as primary risk factors. Misconceptions were widespread, including 90% falsely believing urine colour reliably indicates kidney health. Self-care practices were inconsistent: while dietary adherence was relatively high (97.3% avoided excess salt, 88.5% consumed vegetables regularly), critical monitoring behaviours were neglected – only 15.2% underwent regular renal check-ups, and 29.8% monitored blood pressure at home. Hypertension was strongly associated with CKD (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–14.67), whereas diabetes alone showed no significant link. Socio-demographic disparities further compounded these challenges, with tertiary-educated participants demonstrating better CKD awareness than those with primary education (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings underscore systemic deficiencies in CKD prevention and management, including poor health literacy, financial barriers and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Contribution: To mitigate CKD’s growing burden, policymakers must prioritise community-based education, subsidised screening programmes and improved access to monitoring tools. Culturally tailored interventions, integrating patient empowerment and health system strengthening, are urgently needed to enhance early detection and long-term outcomes in resource-limited settings like Cameroon.