Stroke Preventive Practice and Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background Stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hypertensive patients; this burden is strongly associated with inadequate preventive practices. When preventive measures are lacking, poorly controlled hypertension leads to progressive vascular damage in the brain and markedly increases the likelihood of stroke and contributes to larger infarct size or more extensive intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite this burden, evidence on stroke prevention practices among hypertensive patients is limited, particularly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of stroke preventive practices and identify associated factors among hypertensive patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted among 423 hypertensive patients attending follow‐up care at selected health facilities in Addis Ababa from August 1 to 30, 2024. Participants were enrolled using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed, and bivariable analysis was performed to assess the association between each independent variable and the dependent variable and to identify candidate variables for multivariable analysis. Variables with a p value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered statistically significant factors influencing stroke preventive practices. Results The study achieved a response rate of 99.1%, with 419 participants completing the interview. Overall, 61.8% (95% CI: 57.3–66.1) of the respondents demonstrated good stroke prevention practices. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with good prevention practices included age 56–65 years (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.11, 4.30]), secondary education (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI [1.07, 4.52]), college education and above (AOR = 2.64, 95% CI [1.20, 4.52]), engagement in physical activity (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.54, 4.60]), and sources of information such as television (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI [1.04, 6.87]), newspapers (AOR = 7.20, 95% CI [1.92, 27.0]), and magazines (AOR = 9.71, 95% CI [2.10, 44.8]). Conclusions Good stroke prevention practices were observed in over half of the respondents and were positively associated with older age, higher education, physical activity, and exposure to mass media health information. Targeted health education, promotion of physical activity, and strategic use of mass media should be strengthened to improve stroke prevention practices, particularly among less educated and younger populations.