Department of physiotherapy, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa.
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, South Africa.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Aug 13;24(1):2194. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19320-0.
Over half of adults from rural South Africa are hypertensive. Apart from pharmaceutical treatment, lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and reducing dietary salt have been strongly advocated for the control of hypertension. However, the control rates of hypertension for adults in rural South Africa are low. In this paper we explore whether this is due to the recommended lifestyle intervention not aligning with the individual's socio-cultural determinants of behaviour change.
To explore the social and cultural beliefs, perceptions and practices regarding physical activity and diet as a hypertension control intervention on hypertensive adults living in a rural sub-district in South Africa.
Nine focus group discussions were conducted with hypertensive adults aged 40 years and above from Bushbuckridge sub-district in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa using a semi-structured interview guide. Each session began with introductions of the discussion theme followed by a short discussion on what the participants know about hypertension and the normal blood pressure readings. Physical activity and dietary habits were then introduced as the main subject of discussion. Probing questions were used to get more insight on a specific topic. A thematic analysis approach was used to generate codes, categories, and themes. A manual approach to data analysis was chosen and data obtained through transcripts were analysed inductively.
Participants had a lack of knowledge about blood pressure normal values. Perceived causes of hypertension were alluded to psychosocial factors such as family and emotional-related issues. Physical activity practices were influenced by family and community members' attitudes and gender roles. Factors which influenced dietary practices mainly involved affordability and availability of food. To control their hypertension, participants recommend eating certain foods, emotional control, taking medication, exercising, praying, correct food preparation, and performing house chores.
Lifestyle interventions to control hypertension for adults in a rural South African setting using physical activity promotion and dietary control must consider the beliefs related to hypertension control of this population.
南非农村地区超过一半的成年人患有高血压。除了药物治疗外，还强烈提倡通过增加身体活动和减少饮食中的盐来改变生活方式，以控制高血压。然而，南非农村地区成年人高血压的控制率很低。本文旨在探讨这是否是由于推荐的生活方式干预措施不符合个人行为改变的社会文化决定因素。
探索居住在南非农村一个分区的高血压成年人对身体活动和饮食作为高血压控制干预措施的社会和文化信念、观念和做法。
在南非姆普马兰加省布什巴克鲁德分区，对 40 岁及以上的高血压成年人进行了 9 次焦点小组讨论，采用半结构式访谈指南。每次会议开始时，介绍讨论主题，然后简短讨论参与者对高血压和正常血压读数的了解。然后介绍身体活动和饮食习惯作为主要讨论主题。使用探究性问题深入了解特定主题。采用主题分析方法生成代码、类别和主题。选择手动数据分析方法，对通过抄本获得的数据进行归纳分析。
参与者对血压正常值的知识不足。高血压的潜在原因涉及到家庭和与情绪有关的心理社会因素。身体活动实践受到家庭和社区成员的态度和性别角色的影响。影响饮食实践的因素主要涉及到食物的可负担性和可得性。为了控制高血压，参与者建议食用某些食物、控制情绪、服用药物、锻炼、祈祷、正确准备食物和做家务。
在南非农村地区，使用身体活动促进和饮食控制来控制成年人高血压的生活方式干预措施，必须考虑到该人群对高血压控制的相关信念。
