Nyaaba, GN;
Masana, L;
Aikins, AD-G;
Stronks, K;
Agyemang, C;
(2018)
Lay community perceptions and treatment options for hypertension in rural northern Ghana: a qualitative analysis.
BMJ Open
, 8
(11)
, Article e023451. 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023451.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Adherence to hypertension treatment is a major public health challenge for low and middle-income countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. One potential reason could be the discordance between lay and medical explanatory models of hypertension and its treatment. Understanding community perceptions and practices may contribute to improving hypertension control as they present insights into psychosocial and cultural factors that shape individual behaviour. We explore community perceptions regarding hypertension and its treatment in rural northern Ghana and how they differ from medical understanding. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to collect data, which were analysed using a thematic approach. SETTING: A multisite study conducted in four rural communities in two regions of northern Ghana. PARTICIPANTS: We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions with community leaders and members, respectively. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: community perceptions, treatment options and community support for people with hypertension. Community perceptions about hypertension include hypertension perceived as excess blood in the body and associated with spiritual or witchcraft attacks. Traditional medicine is perceived to cure hypertension completely with concurrent use of biomedical and traditional medicines encouraged in rural communities. Community members did not consider themselves at risk of developing hypertension and reported having inadequate information on how to provide social support for hypertensive community members, which they attributed to low literacy and poverty. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial mismatch between communities’ perceptions and medical understanding of hypertension and its treatment. These perceptions partly result from structural factors and social norms shaped by collective processes and traditions that shape lay beliefs and influence individual health behaviour. Socioeconomic factors also thwart access to information and contribute to inadequate social support for persons with hypertension. These findings highlight the need for a public health approach to hypertension control targeting families and communities.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Lay community perceptions and treatment options for hypertension in rural northern Ghana: a qualitative analysis |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023451 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023451 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © Author(s) (or their employer[s]) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > SHS Faculty Office UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > SHS Faculty Office > UCL Institute for Advanced Studies |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10078611 |
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