A Pattern of Blood Pressure and Family Function in Adult Hypertensive Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in a Rural Area

Abstract

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is common and chronic. Early detection, coupled with the sincere dedication to treatment plans will delay/prevent complications. Late detection, lack of motivation for treatment, unhealthy lifestyle and poor adherence to medications and follow-up visits leads to early onset of complications. Motivation to adhere to therapeutic plans occurs in families with good function, and consequently good support to the hypertensive.
This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility in a rural area of Edo state, Nigeria. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information, anthropometric parameters, the presence of risk factors for HTN, and relevant information on management. The Smilkstein,s Family System APGAR Item tool was used to assess a family member’s perception of family functioning, by examining his/her satisfaction with family relationships. Data were entered into a spreadsheet and analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 2.1. Out of the 151 participants in the study, 61.6% were females and 45.7% were in the age group 40-59 years, with the mean age 56.97±12.49 years. Majority of the respondents were civil servants (34.4%), had up to the tertiary level of education (39.1%), and were married (84.8%). Most of the respondents (78.8%) had controlled BP (<140/90mmHg). According to the Smilkstein,s Family System APGAR item scoring, 69.6% of the respondents were from highly functional families, while only 5.3% were from dysfunctional families. Seventy five (75) respondents from the highly functional families had controlled BP, while only six participants from the dysfunctional families had controlled BP. There was the significant association between blood pressure and age, and also  between blood pressure and frequency of drug intake. However, there was no significant association between blood pressure and family function, sex, educational level, exercise and clinic attendance.
Findings from this study show that the control of HTN in primary care population is good. Family involvement in the management of patients with HTN, is of paramount importance to the Family Physician, to enable him/her care for them adequately.