Abstract

STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF GENERAL POPULATION OF LUCKNOW TOWARDS HYPERTENSION

Sanjiv Bhatia, BS Khanka, Dheeraj Singh, Pratap Shankar*, Sachin Tutu, Preet Lakhani, Amod Kumar, R. K. Dixit

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hypertension has become a significant problem in many developing countries experiencing epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable chronic diseases.The emergence of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as a public health problem in these countries is strongly related to the aging of the populations, urbanization, and socioeconomic changes favoring sedentary habits, obesity, alcohol consumption, and salt intake, among others. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To examine Knowledge, Attitude and practice for hypertension and associated risk factors in adults to help improve primary and secondary CVD prevention and control complications of the same. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A suitably designed and validated KAP questionnaire was administered to General population of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Study population sample was selected randomly. The questionnaire covered three areas: knowledge, attitude and practice towards hypertension. RESULT & DISCUSSION: Most of the respondents (36.3 %) were aged 31- 40 years, followed by those aged 20-30 years. Most of them (55.8 %) were educated up to secondary school. Only 30% of responders had their blood pressure checked. CONCLUSION: Repeated reinforcement and motivation along with health education will definitely bring about a positive change in attitude and practices.

Keywords: Hypertension. Knowledge, Attitude, Practice.