KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND WILLINGNESS OF STAFF OF IBADAN NORTHWEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO BE TRAINED TO SELF MONITOR THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE

Abstract

The risk of High Blood Pressure (HBP) increases with age and the awareness rate in Nigeria is about 18.55%. Early detection and treatment of hypertension reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Self-monitoring of blood pressure (SMBP) is indispensable for the prevention and improvement of hypertension management in medical practice. This study therefore investigated knowledge, attitudes and willingness towards training on self-monitoring of blood pressure among secretariat staff in Ibadan North West Local Government Area, Ibadan. A cross-sectional survey involving 280 willing staffs of Ibadan North West Local Government Secretariat was conducted. All willing secretariat staff of the Local Government was recruited for the study. Respondents were interviewed using a semi-structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaires collecting socio-demographic information, assessing knowledge of HBP, attitude and willingness to be trained to self-monitor blood pressure. Knowledge was assessed on a 56- point scale and score ≥ 30 was regarded as good. Attitude was assessed on a 13-point scale and scores ≥7 was categorized as positive. Willingness was also assessed on a 4-point scale and score ≥2 was categorized as willing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Correlation at p=0.05. Respondents' age was 35.7±10.6 years and 57.5% were female. Majority (90.4%) were Yoruba, 51.4% were married and 72.1% were Christians. Most of them (86.8%) had tertiary education. Majority of the respondents (65.7%) had poor knowledge about high blood pressure. Only 22.5% correctly defined HBP and 66.8% could identify normal BP readings. Most (66.4%) reported headache, dizziness and general tiredness as symptoms of HBP but only 1.8% recognized the symptomless nature of HBP. Majority (87.1%) perceived high blood pressure as dangerous although 90.0% believed HBP results from anxiety and stress. Most of them (93.9%) said HBP could cause stroke and heart failure while majority (81.5%) said overweight could also cause HBP. Majority (93.9%) believed that HBP is preventable although (81.0%) believed that the use of local home remedies could prevent HBP. Many 78.2% and 86.1% also said HBP could be prevented by diets modification and leisure physical exercise respectively. Majority (78.9%) believed that SMBP could help to prevent high blood pressure out of which 36.7% said it would do so by ensuring early detection and medication and 87.1% were ready to start (SMBP) if needed to prevent high blood pressure. Majority (77.9%) had positive attitude towards training. Most (89.6%) reported willingness

to start SMBP. Most of them 90.0% were willing to be trained to SMBP and 82.1% were willing to buy self-monitoring devices. The main factor that could prevent the adoption of SMBP was inadequate knowledge to operate the devices with (44.7%) agreeing. The result also showed that there was an association between the attitudes of the respondents and willingness to self-monitor their blood pressure. Knowledge of HBP is poor among the respondents Although they have positive attitudes and enthusiastic about starting SMBP, more efforts should still be geared towards improving the skills and levels of knowledge of the respondents through adequate information, education and communication and awareness creation.