Application of a Health Belief Model to Hypertension within Rural India

Cardiovascular diseases are the principal cause of mortality among adults across the globe as well as in India. Hypertension is one of the leading factors contributing to cardiovascular disease; and its prevalence rate in India is 23% among urban population and 22.6% among rural populations. Beliefs play a significant role in managing and controlling health problems and depend in part on knowledge about the illness or disease. The present study uses the Health Belief Model framework to enhance understanding of the relationships of health beliefs with knowledge, risk factors for hypertension and hypertension. The present study focused on a south western state of India from which a taluk with one of the lowest socio-economic ratings was identified. A total of 263 participants were selected by multi-stage random sampling technique. The measures for data collection were comprised of a demographic data sheet, the WHO Steps tool, a hypertension knowledge questionnaire, hypertension belief scale, and physical assessments. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Independent sample t test, and binary logistic regression. Findings revealed that health belief model constructs, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with hypertension knowledge. Further it was observed that the health belief construct perceived severity was correlated with a risk factor and there was no significant association found between health belief constructs perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy and hypertension.