Hypertension management in Zimbabwe--awareness, treatment and blood pressure control. A community-based study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of awareness of hypertension, treatment and blood pressure control in rural and urban communities in Zimbabwe. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: 749 male and female heads of households aged > 34 years recruited from alternate households of randomly selected villages in two adjacent rural areas and randomly selected streets in an urban area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure, awareness of hypertension, treatment and control for those on drug therapy. RESULTS: 250 subjects were found to have a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 94 mmHg or were on treatment with a DBP < 95 mmHg. Only 56 (22.4%) were on treatment. Of those not on treatment, 73.9% were not aware that they were hypertensive, while only 26.1% were aware but were untreated. Of those on treatment, control was inadequate in 24 (52.2%). CONCLUSION: Awareness is low and treatment and control of hypertension are inadequate in this population. There is an urgent need to set up a national policy for the prevention and control of hypertension in Zimbabwe. The main focus should be on prevention, as this may be more cost-effective for a developing country with limited resources.