Impact of a community based intervention program on awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in a rural Panchayat, Kerala, India.

• OBJECTIVE: Community based intervention to control hypertension is extremely limited in India. We conducted this study to find the effectiveness of a community based intervention program on the awareness, treatment and control of hypertension.METHODS: A baseline survey was conducted among 4627 adults aged ≥30 years (men 44%) selected by cluster sampling. Information was collected using a structured interview schedule by trained local volunteers. They measured weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure using standard protocol. The volunteers monitored blood pressure at least once a month and educated the people in neighborhood groups on the need for regular medication and reducing risk factors of hypertension for a period of six years. A post intervention survey was conducted among 2263 adults aged ≥30 years (men 49%). Stepwise logistic regression analysis was done to find the odds of change in awareness, treatment and control of hypertension.RESULTS: The odds of awareness (OR 4.18, 95% CI 3.44-5.08), treatment (OR 3.44 CI 2.81-4.22) and control (OR 4.39 CI 3.36-5.73) of hypertension increased significantly in the post intervention survey compared to the baseline survey. Baseline hypertension prevalence of 34.9% (CI 33.8-36.1) was reduced to 31.0% (CI 29.1-32.9) in the post intervention survey based on age adjusted analysis.CONCLUSION: Our community based intervention using trained community based volunteers could increase awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among adult hypertensives.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Community based intervention

Hypertension

Impact

India

Kerala

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)