Abstract:
Objective: To assess factors contributing to dietary compliance among hypertensive In - and - Out – patients.
Design: A quantitative descriptive study with purposively selected participants interviewed using structured questionnaires was carried out. The theoretical foundation of the study, the Health Belief Model informed the questionnaire. Data was analysed using STATA version 13 computer software programme. Results were summarized using frequency tables and graphs.
Setting: Maluti Adventist Hospital, Berea district, Lesotho. The Hospital serves about 100,000 people, with 150 patient beds and sees about 170 out-patients daily.
Subjects: 50 hypertensive men and women between the ages 35 and 65 attending hypertension clinic at Maluti Adventist Hospital.
Outcome Measures: Dietary compliance for hypertension measured by nutrition-related knowledge, perceptions and practices.
Results: The majority of the participants were females (74%), males were least represented (26%). The younger ages (35–45) were least represented (26%), while older ages (46-65) were mostly represented (74%). Majority (88%) reported having learned about hypertension from health professionals, while 12% reported that they had not. The majority (60%) reported knowing the selected recommended diet for hypertension, however, only 6% reported using low fat milk, 2% using fat free milk and no participant reported the food sources of the good (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids) and the bad fats (saturated and trans fats, and cholesterol) for hypertension. Instead the participants referred to fats generally as oily foods.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of hypertension in Lesotho could be due to ineffective nutrition education provided in the health centres that does not distinguish the types of good and bad fats for hypertension and the food sources of these, as well as not being able to point out the food sources of non-starch polysaccharides. Foods are only mentioned in general terms, making it difficult for hypertensive patients to comply with.
