CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Hypertension remains a major global politic health challenge that has been identified as the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity (Kearney et al, 2016). It increases hardening of the arteries thus predisposing individuals to heart diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, stroke heart failure and kidney failure. Hypertension is the commonest non communicable disease in the world and all races are affected with variable prevalence. Gazelle 2014 explained that its prevalence is on the increase in developing countries where adoption of western lifestyle and stress are urbanized. Both of which are expected to increase mobility and mortality associated with unhealthy lifestyle are not on the decline. Andrei et al, 2016 were on the opinion that hypertension produces disruption in health disabilities and death in the adult population worldwide.

According to the world health organization,2019;Hypeertesion is defined as a condition in which the force of blood against the blood artery walls is too high meanwhile Carmegie 2012 defines hypertension as blood pressure of 140/90,and is consider same by Barbara,2017,when this figures goes up above 180/120 it is consider severe hypertension. 

Ezeanyika and suzuky in 2017 stated that hypertension causes one in every eight dead worldwide. Making it the third killer disease in the world. They also estimated that about one billion adults, the world over, had hypertension in the year 2015, and that the number is expected to rise to 1.56 billion in the year 2025 if positive intervention programs is not made. Arams, George herly, Williams, in 2003 indicate that 50million Americans had high blood pressure, that’s approximately one in three adults.

In the United States of America, approximately twenty eight to thirty one per percent of adults have hypertension (Burt, 2014). Of this population 95% have primary hypertension (high blood pressure related to undefined causes). The remaining five percent of this group have secondary hypertension (high blood pressure related to identify causes). In China, almost 130 million people aged 35_74years are hypertensive (Camel et al, 2016).

Similarly in Ghana, studies review that hypertension is prevalent of forty percent among city dwellers and eight percent to thirteenth percent among urban dwellers. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is the most rising cardiovascular disease affecting over 20 million people (Kadiri, 2018). He also stated that in Nigeria hypertension is the commonest non communicable disease with over 2.4 million Nigerians above the age of 15 years classified as being hypertensive.

Hypertension is one of the problems affecting especially a great portion of the world especially the adult’s population and currently cause one in every eight every eight death in the world making it the third leading killer diseases in the world (uguwe, 2014). Ejike in 2010 estimated that about one billion adults had hypertension in the years 2010 and the number is expected to rise to 1.5 billion in the year 2025.in addition hypertension is the commonest non communicable disease in Cameroon and the world at large. According to Tsafack 2012 an estimated 1 million Cameroonian are hypertensive and many Cameroonians are still losing their lives to hypertension. This is not an acceptable situation, considering the facts that hypertension is preventable and manageable to reduce its impact on the health life of people in Cameroon. Despite effective therapies and lifestyle interventions, optimal prevention and management of hypertension remains a very big challenge in Cameroon (jeale, 2014).

1.2 Problems Statement

Normally everyone’s blood pressure readings should be within normal range of 120/85 millimeters of mercury for adults, above which the person is considered hypertensive.

Hypertension has been shown to have series of consequences, and adequate knowledge of risk factors can help in the prevention of hypertension. Therefore adults in the Great Soppo community needs to have the knowledge of hypertension to reduce the prevalence of hypertension disease, improve health and optimum well-being. But it is likely that hypertensive patients in the research area may or may not have adequate knowledge of hypertension. Evidence regarding the knowledge of hypertension doesn’t seems to exist.Therefore this study regarding the knowledge and perception of adults towards the prevention of hypertension becomes necessary.

1.3. Objective

1.3.1 General Objective

The purpose of this study work was to assess the knowledge and perception of hypertension and its management by the patient in Great Soppo Buea community.

1.3.2 The specific objectives

1) To assess the knowledge and perception of hypertension towards prevention among adults in the Great Soppo health area.

2) To identify how the inhabitance of Great Soppo manage hypertension.

3) To identify the challenges faced by the Great Soppo inhabitants in treating and preventing hypertension

1.4 Research questions

1. What is the knowledge, do inhabitant of Great soppo have with respects the prevention of hypertension?
2. How do the inhabitants of Great soppo prevent hypertension?
3. What are the challenges they face in treating and preventing hypertension