Abstract:
Background: -Hypertension is one of the leading causes of disability and death in both
developed and developing countries that need urgent strategies to implement interventions
that control it. Appropriate lifestyle changes often called non-pharmacological approaches
which often overlooked are the cornerstone for the prevention and control of hypertension
Objective: - The aim of this study is to assess practice of lifestyle modifications and
associated factors among diagnosed hypertensive patients in Durame and Nigist Elleni
Mohamed Memorial Hospitals in southern Ethiopia.
Methods:-Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 hypertensive
patients in Durame and Nigist Elleni Mohamed Memorial General Hospitals in SNNPR,
from March 1-30 2016. Simple random sampling were used to select study subjects.
Structured, pretested and interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data
from the patients. Data were checked for completeness and accuracy during data collection
and entered to Epidata 3.1 and was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Descriptive statistics were
used to summarize the data. Bivariate and multivariable analysis were done to determine the
association between dependent and independent variables. Adjusted odds ratio at 95%CI
were used to declare independent effect of each variable on the outcome variable and
significance were declared at p-value<0.05.
Result: - Two-hundred five (97.5%) patients participated in the study. Only 33(16.1%) had
good physical activity practice. Eighty six (41.9%) of the participants had good weight
management practice. one hundred eighteen (57.5%) of the study subjects had poor low salt
diet practice. One hundred eighty (87.9%) were abstainers from alcohol and one hundred
eighty seven (91.2%) were non- smokers. From the participants only 56(27.7%) practiced
good lifestyle modification. Age above 65 years(AOR=0.27,95%CI:0.13-0.61), Educational
status(AOR=2.00,95%CI:1.33-6.75),monthly income (AOR=2.46,95%CI:1.32-4.63), 5-10
years since diagnosis(AOR=2.48,95%CI:1.32-4.69), and co-morbidity (AOR=0.28,95% CI:
0.13-0.61) were factors significantly associated with lifestyle modification practice.
Conclusion: Generally lifestyle modification practices among hypertensive patients were
low in this study. Therefore, Patients should be educated on the recommended lifestyle
modifications which help patients to control of their blood pressure.
