Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward hypertension and its risk factors among university employees in Erbil city

Background and objective: Hypertension is a significant public health issue both globally and in Iraq, it plays a major role in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although highly educated, university employees may still be at risk due to sedentary habits, stress, and poor health practices. Assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to hypertension is essential for developing effective prevention and management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning hypertension and its risk factors among employees of public universities in Erbil City. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among academic and administrative staff at Erbil Polytechnic University, Hawler Medical University. Salahaddin University participants were selected using Stratified random sampling. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire that included demographic information and assessed knowledge, attitude and practice related to hypertension, The collected data were analyzed using SPSS, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: The study included 400 participants, aged between 22 and 69 years. The average knowledge score was 44.4%, with 66.5% of participants exhibiting poor knowledge. Attitudes toward hypertension were mostly positive reflected by an average score of 65.63%; nonetheless, 63.7% of participants displayed neutral attitudes. The average practice score was 50.13%, with 50.7% of participants showing poor health practices. Significant associations were observed between knowledge levels and factors such as gender, education, occupation, and income (P <0.05). higher practice scores were associated with older age, higher education, chronic health conditions, and longer years of service. Conclusion: Despite generally positive attitudes, there is a significant gap in knowledge and health-promoting practices related to hypertension among university employees in Erbil. Targeted educational programs, workplace wellness initiatives, and ongoing health promotion efforts are suggested to enhance knowledge, attitude and practice and lower the risk of hypertension in this population.