KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTION OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING MEDICAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF GARKI HOSPITAL, ABUJA, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA

This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and
prevention of hypertension among patients attending the
medical outpatient department of Garki Hospital, Abuja,
FCT. This work investigated the knowledge and
prevention of hypertension among patients attending the
Medical Outpatient Department (MOPD). A descriptive
research design was adopted for this study, and a total of
100 patients were selected who participated fully in the
study. A well-developed questionnaire was used for data
collection, and the collected data were analyzed using
simple percentages and Chi-square. The sociodemographic
characteristics of respondents revealed
that the majority of respondents were within 28 to 37
years (33%), female (68%), and Christians (72%).
Further findings showed that the majority of respondents
were single (63%), with tertiary education (78%), and
employed (66%). This study revealed that respondents
were highly knowledgeable about hypertension (72%)
and hypertension preventive measures among patients
were very high (75%). The following recommendations
were made: there should be more awareness about
hypertension among both educated and illiterate people;
there should be general health education about the
causes of hypertension; and there should be a new policy
on hypertension health care in Nigeria.

• Author details: AHAIWE | CHINEDUM | I. | ahaiwe2@aol.com | 09030545657, OPARANMA | FLORENCE | U. | uche.florence2015@gmail.com | +2348123563395
• Keywords: Knowledge, Patients, Hypertension, Abuja, Nigeria
• Manuscript: KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTION OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING MEDICAL OUTPATIENT