| dc.description.abstract | Globally, uncontrolled hypertension is a health priority since it raises the risk for the onset
of renal failure, heart disease and diabetes. Hypertension complications contribute to high
rates of morbidity and mortality. Optimal blood pressure can be achieved by putting in
place strategies that encourage routine physical activity engagement and intake of health
diets among hypertensive patients. Patient related factors which include unhealthy dietary
practices, poor nutrition status and physical inactivity have been identified to be main
hindrances in hypertension management. Minimal information exists on the relationship
between dietary practices, physical activity and nutrition status among hypertensive
patients. These causes are researched and documented in developed countries but not in
developing countries. This research aimed at determining the dietary practices, physical
activity level and nutrition status of hypertensive patients in a developing country set up to
fill this research gap. Cross-sectional analytical research design was adopted; the
respondents were selected using systematic random sampling method. The study was
conducted on a sample of 134 hypertensive patients attending Kiambu District Hospital in
Kiambu County. Dietary practices were established by use of a 24-hour dietary recall and
a seven day food frequency questionnaire. The World Health Organisation global physical
activity questionnaire was used to measure the physical activity level. Anthropometric
parameters were used to assess the nutrition status. A pretested questionnaire was used to
collect demographic and socio-economic status data. Data analysis was done by use of
statistical package for the social science. The respondent’s dietary practices, physical
activity level, nutrition status, demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the study
population were described by use of descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to
determine the association between categorical variables like demographic, socioeconomic
status and dietary practices and nutrition status. The relationship between non-categorical
variables including physical activity level, dietary practices and nutrition status was
determined by use of Pearson correlation test. A p-value of <0.05 was used as a criterion
for statistical significance. The results were presented in the form of graphs and frequency
tables. The study population had poor nutrition status as revealed by the high prevalence
of overweight and obesity at 82.1%. Majority of the study participants had unhealthy
dietary practices with intake of diets high in sugar, cholesterol, energy dense snacks and
low in vitamins and minerals. Of the 134 respondent 79.1% had uncontrolled blood
pressure. Low physical activity level was reported by most (63.0%) participants. Dietary
practices were significantly associated with nutrition status. A positive significant
relationship was found between dietary intake of carbohydrate (r=0.683, p<0.001) and
cereals (r=0.229, p=0.008), and nutrition status. On the other hand a negative significant
relationship was found between dietary intake of dark green vegetables (r=-0.210,
p=0.015) and nutrition status. The predictors of being overweight or obese were determined
to be dietary intake of carbohydrates, protein, meat, dark green vegetables and physical
inactivity. Physical activity was significantly related with nutrition status at (p<0.001). The
odds of being physical inactivity and obese in women was found to be 0.28 times while in
men it was 3.50 times compared to physically active individuals. Based on these findings
measures that would lead to better dietary practices and increased physical activity among
hypertensive patients should be put in place for better hypertension management. The
Ministry of Health and other agencies working in the sector for the control and
management of hypertension may find the information collected in this study useful. | en_US |
