Awareness, treatment, control of hypertension and utilization of health care services following screening in the North-central region of Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION

In Africa, a non-urban area is affected by hypertension. But in Burkina Faso, no study on factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of hypertension has not yet been published. The objectives of this report are to: (i) identify the factors associated with awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the adult population of Kaya health and demographic surveillance system (Kaya HDSS) and (ii) estimate health care services utilization by participant newly screened as hypertensive.

METHODS

A screening survey for hypertension was conducted on 1481 adults in Kaya HDSS in late 2012. Hypertensive individuals provided information relating to "awareness", "treatment" and "control" of their hypertension. After approximately two months, unaware hypertensive individuals were interviewed to know whether they had sought treatment.

RESULTS

During the screening survey, 123 individuals (9.4%) were identified as having hypertension. Among them, 33 (26.8%, 95% CI: 18.9-34.8) were aware of their condition, 25 (75.8%, 95% CI: 60.3-91.2) of them were receiving medication. Among those receiving treatment, 15 (60.0%, 95% CI: 39.4-80.6) had their blood pressure controlled. Semi-urban residence, presence of chronic diseases and physical inactivity were significantly associated with awareness of hypertension. Seventy two of the 90 participants who were classified as unaware were interviewed two months later. Out of them, 37 individuals had consulted a health worker and 28 received a diagnosis of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Awareness was low but treatment and control of those who knew they were hypertensive were relatively high. These results could be used to improve management of hypertension in Burkina Faso.