Project Description

Author: Hasan et al.

Summary:

Background

Hypertension is one of leading causes of disability and deaths worldwide. Despite the life-threatening implications of uncontrolled blood pressure, both suspected and confirmed hypertensive patients seek care from both formal and informal health providers in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess quantitatively about the health seeking behavior and associated factors among registered hypertensive patients in the North-Eastern region of Bangladesh.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Hypertension & Research Center, Rangpur, Bangladesh between January 2022 to June 2022. A total of 497 hypertensive adults (>18 years) registered in the center were interviewed. Currently pregnant, and on irregular follow-up or unwilling to participate were excluded. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was deployed by the research team for data collection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of this health seeking behavior.

Results

Mean age of the hypertensive patients was 52 ±11 (SD) years. Majority of them were aged between 51 to 60 years (33%), female (55%), came from rural areas (57%), and belonged to middle socio-economic class (68%). One fourth of the patients (27%) have chosen informal health care providers for their first consultation. Fear of stroke (244, 45%), Headache (170, 36%) and neck pain (81, 17%) were the three most common compelling causes of their visit. Age (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94 – 0.98), male sex (aOR: 1.81, 95% CI 1.05 – 3.10), living in semi-urban (aOR 4.69, 95% CI 1.46 – 15.12) and/or rural area (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.03 – 2.88), farmers as occupation (aOR: 3.18, 95%CI: 1.29 – 7.85) and belonging to lower social economic class (aOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.64 – 10.47) were predictors of visiting informal providers of hypertensive patient.

Conclusion

One fourth of the hypertensive patients received consultation from the informal health care providers. Raising awareness and proper referral to specialized hypertension centers could promulgate the patients towards appropriate behavior.

Keywords: Health seeking behavior, hypertension, informal health providers, Bangladesh

Status: Ongoing

Full text link: Not available