Hypertension management in Zimbabwe : awareness, treatment and blood pressure control a community-based study

To evaluate the level of awareness of hypertension, treatment and blood pressure control in rural and urban communities in Zimbabwe. Community-based cross-sectional survey. 749 male and female heads of households aged > 34 years recruited from alternate households of randomly selected villages in two adjacent rural areas and randomly selected streets in an urban area. Blood pressure, awareness of hypertension, treatment and control for those on drug therapy. 250 subjects were found to have a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 94 mmHg or were on treatment with a DBP < 95 mmHg. Only 56 (22.4%) were on treatment. Of those not on treatment, 73.9% were not aware that they were hypertensive, while only 26.1% were aware but were untreated. Of those on treatment, control was inadequate in 24 (52.2%). Awareness is low and treatment and control of hypertension are inadequate in this population. There is an urgent need to set up a national policy for the prevention and control of hypertension in Zimbabwe. The main focus should be on prevention, as this may be more cost-effective for a developing country with limited resources.