Perceived Barriers to Hypertension Control: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Healthcare Providers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Uncontrolled hypertension (HPT) is a major public health challenge in Ghana. This study investigated the impact of government health system, and healthcare provider-level barriers on hypertension management in the Ashanti region.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 210 healthcare providers at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to examine the associations between barriers and hypertension management.

RESULTS

Government and health system-level barriers were significantly associated with healthcare providers' perceived effectiveness in managing hypertension and policy effectiveness. Similarly, healthcare provider-level barriers were linked to perceived effectiveness and policy impact. However, multivariable analysis revealed that the effects of these barriers on hypertension management were attenuated.

CONCLUSION

While government, health system, and healthcare provider barriers influence hypertension management in Ghana, their impact is less pronounced than anticipated. This finding is encouraging for achieving the national hypertension control target. However, further research is needed to identify factors mitigating the effects of these barriers to inform effective interventions.