Abstract

Hypertension constitutes the primary factor contributing to the highest number of preventable fatalities and illnesses in the country of India. One of the primary contributors to the development of cardiovascular disease, this factor was responsible for 23% of all fatalities and 32% of deaths among adults during the period of 2010-2013. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a clinical setup, utilizing an observational approach. The data was collected from a sample of 248 individuals who had been diagnosed with hypertension. The data collection process involved the utilization of a pre-designed and pre-tested structured schedule. The aforementioned schedule consisted of multiple elements and was implemented for every participant. Results: In the current investigation, it was found that a majority of the study participants (62.9%) who were diagnosed with hypertension exhibited unfavorable self-care practices. The logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with unfavorable self-care practices. These factors included age above 60 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1), primary level education (OR = 5.6), poor socioeconomic status (OR = 2.4), being widowed or separated (OR = 3.3), and individuals who perceived their health status as poor (OR = 2.8). After controlling for other variables, age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.3) and education (AOR = 3.8) continued to exhibit a significant association with the outcome. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated that self-care practices among individuals with hypertension were suboptimal in rural regions. There is a significant imperative to enhance the level of awareness regarding healthy lifestyle practices among individuals diagnosed with hypertension. This study offers essential components for influencing policy changes and implementing social interventions.

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