Factors Related to Health Behaviors in Persons with Hypertension, Myanmar

Honey Oo, Department of Community Health Nursing, University of Nursing, Lanmadaw P.O. 11131, Yangon, MyanmarFollow
Somnuk Sakunhongsophon, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Sangthong Terathongkum, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the relationships between personal and environmental factors and health behaviors in persons with hypertension. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out using a convenient sample of individuals with hypertension from three community health centers in Yangon, Myanmar. Data were collected using a standardized interviewer- administered questionnaire consisting of six sections: demographic characteristics, Self-efficacy to manage Hypertension Scale, Health Behavior Questionnaire, Barriers to Health Promoting Activities Scale, Hypertension Knowledge Questionnaire, and Social Support Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Participants had a high level of perceived self-efficacy (42.13 ± 7.58), a low level of perceived barriers (35.32 ± 19.63), a poor social support (49.64 ± 8.51), a good level of hypertension knowledge (10.63 ± 1.90) and a moderate level of health behaviors (70.59 ± 12.39). Health behaviors had significant relationship with income, social support, hypertension knowledge and perceived barriers (r = -0.28, p = 0.004; r = 0.23, p = 0.019; r = 0.27, p = 0.006; r = -0.21, p = 0.034), respectively. Conclusions: These findings suggest that health behaviors in persons with hypertension can be improved using hypertension knowledge, social support, and decrease in perceived barriers.