Understanding and Motivations of Female Community Health Volunteers About Blood Pressure Control: A Prerequisite for Developing Community-Based Hypertension Interventions in Nepal.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the knowledge and attitudes of female community health volunteers (FCHV) in Nepal regarding hypertension prevention and control, including perceptions of high salt intake as a risk factor.
Results Summary
The study found that 65.4% of FCHV identified high salt intake as a major risk factor for hypertension, indicating awareness of its negative impact. However, the study did not directly measure salt's effects on health outcomes.
Population
Female community health volunteers (FCHV) in Lekhnath municipality, Nepal.
Effective Dosage
Not available
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | no change | health literacy and attitudes | female community health volunteers (FCHV) | - | not well understood | #1 |
blood pressure screening | decrease | blood pressure reduction | community level | - | explore the potential for the effectiveness | #2 |
- | neutral | levels of knowledge about hypertension | FCHV | low 43%, medium 24%, high 31% | were 43%, 24%, and 31% | #3 |
- | increase | hypertension prevalence | respondents | almost all | considered hypertension a major problem | #4 |
training for blood pressure screening | increase | screening capability | respondents | almost all | would like to receive | #5 |
- | no change | knowledge and attitudes related to hypertension | FCHV | no significant change | No significant differences were observed | #6 |
smoking | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 69.8% | agreed that are major risk factors | #7 |
alcohol | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 77.8% | agreed that are major risk factors | #8 |
low physical activity | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 42.4% | agreed that are major risk factors | #9 |
high salt intake | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 65.4% | agreed that are major risk factors | #10 |
high fat intake | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 78.7% | agreed that are major risk factors | #11 |
genetics | increase | hypertension risk | FCHV | 53.9% | agreed that are major risk factors | #12 |
improve the health literacy | increase | blood pressure management | - | - | need to | #13 |
community-based intervention | increase | detection and management of hypertension | community level in Nepal | - | need for development and implementation | #14 |
- | increase | blood pressure prevention, control, and management | community settings | high level | demonstrated a high level of interest and readiness | #15 |
BACKGROUND: Health literacy and attitudes of female community health volunteers (FCHV) toward hypertension management in the context of Nepal are not well understood. Therefore, it is important to explore the potential for the effectiveness for blood pressure screening and perceptions on their likely ability to promote a blood pressure reduction at community level. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the knowledge and attitudes of FCHV related to hypertension prevention and control. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with FCHV located inside Lekhnath municipality. A total of 113 FCHV were interviewed in the survey using a questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes related to hypertension and risk factors. RESULTS: The percentages of FCHV with low, medium, and high levels of knowledge about hypertension were 43%, 24%, and 31%, respectively. Almost all of the respondents considered hypertension a major problem in their community and they would like to receive training for blood pressure screening. No significant differences were observed in the knowledge and attitudes related to hypertension in relation to demographic characteristics of FCHV. A majority of FCHV agreed that smoking (69.8%), alcohol (77.8%), low physical activity (42.4%), high salt intake (65.4%), high fat intake (78.7%), and genetics (53.9%) are major risk factors for hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that there is a background need to improve the health literacy for blood pressure management. There is also a need for development and implementation of a community-based intervention aimed at mobilizing female community health volunteers for detection and management of hypertension at the community level in Nepal. Our study demonstrated a high level of interest and readiness for blood pressure prevention, control, and management in community settings.