Multiple self-care behaviors and associated factors in community-dwelling patients with hypertension in Myanmar.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of self-care behaviors and the associated factors among hypertensive patients in primary care in Myanmar. This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2019 among 410 hypertensive patients in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State, Myanmar. Hypertensive patients aged 30-70 years old and being registered at the community health centers in Myitkyina Township were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling. Self-care behaviors were measured by Hypertensive Self-Care Activity Level Effect (H-SCALE). Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to explore the associated factors. Prevalence of adherence to multiple self-care behaviors were low: avoidance of tobacco use at 50.2%, followed by physical activity at 24.9%, medication at 24.1%, weight management at 9.5%, and healthy diet at 2.7%, while abstinence from harmful alcohol drinking was high at 97.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that younger patients, low family income, inadequate knowledge, and no comorbidity were associated with non-adherence to medication. Living in rural area and having poor self-efficacy were associated with non-adherence to weight management, while being younger, female and having poor self-efficacy were also associated with non-adherence to physical activity. Compared with Kachin, other ethnics were more likely to be non-adherent to avoidance of tobacco use. Although a majority of respondents were not ha...
Source: Nagoya Journal of Medical Science - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Nagoya J Med Sci Source Type: research