[Mapping access to hypertension management services by general practitioners in Burkina Faso in 2020].

INTRODUCTION

arterial hypertension (AH) is a public health problem in Burkina Faso. Its management is not the sole responsibility of the specialist but requires the participation of all healthcare actors within a care network, with the involvement of those at the forefront. This study aimed to analyse and map the capacity for managing hypertension in Burkina Faso.

METHODS

we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among general practitioners in Burkina Faso via social networks. Sampling was carried out voluntarily.

RESULTS

our study involved 182 general practitioners with a sex ratio of 2.7: 1. The average age of the physicians was 31 years with an average professional experience of 2.7 years. The WHO minimum assessment for the management of hypertension was available for 80% of doctors and in 74% of the towns. Most physicians (96%) limited their treatment to antihypertensive dual therapy, frequently prescribing calcium channel blockers (75.8%), converting enzyme inhibitors (51.6%), and diuretics (40.7%). Specialist advice was sought in the event of uncontrolled hypertension (52.8%), with little interaction with specialists: only 20.3% of counter-referrals. Most physicians (93%) wished to participate in an AH management care network, but 98.4% needed training.

CONCLUSION

Burkina Faso has an uneven distribution of AH management resources. Physicians' skills need to be enhanced to improve the quality of care. Better management of resources and establishing a care network would allow better coordination of activities and improve the management of hypertension.