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. 2020;31(1):9-15.
doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2019-037. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Healthy Heart Africa: a prospective evaluation of programme outcomes on individuals' hypertension awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment in rural Kenya at 12 months

Gerald Yonga  1 , Francis O Okello  2 , Jane L Herr  2 , Ashling Mulvaney  3 , Elijah N Ogola  4
Affiliations

Healthy Heart Africa: a prospective evaluation of programme outcomes on individuals' hypertension awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment in rural Kenya at 12 months

Gerald Yonga et al. Cardiovasc J Afr. 2020.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Healthy Heart Africa (HHA), a comprehensive hypertension intervention programme, on hypertension awareness, knowledge, screening and diagnosis among rural communities in Kenya.

Methods: Individuals from rural households near intervention and matched control healthcare facilities were randomly surveyed at baseline and the end point (after 12 months). A difference-in-differences analysis estimated the impact of HHA.

Results: This analysis included 838 individuals (intervention, n = 432; control, n = 406) at baseline and 698 (n = 364 and n = 334, respectively) at the end point. At baseline, both groups had high hypertension awareness (> 80%) but poor knowledge. After 12 months, healthcare providers were the primary information source for the intervention group only (p < 0.05). At the end point, respondents' knowledge of hypertension risk factors, consequences and management trended higher among the intervention versus the control group. Hypertension screening/diagnosis and patient recall of provider recommendations remained unchanged in both groups.

Conclusions: HHA improved hypertension knowledge but screening and diagnosis remained unchanged after 12 months.

Keywords: Healthy Heart Africa (HHA); Kenya; awareness; hypertension; rural.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Logic model for the Healthy Heart Africa programme. BP, blood pressure; HTN: hypertension.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Map of Kenya showing distribution of intervention facilities and matched control facilities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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