Prevalence and associated factors of forgone care among hypertensive patients in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Hypertension is a complex chronic disease requiring appropriate continuous medical care, and forgone care may exacerbate the severity of the disease and associated complications. The assessment of forgone care indicates the gap between perceived need and actual utilization of healthcare services. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors affecting forgone care in patients with hypertension. Method A cross-sectional study was also conducted. Study subjects were selected by using a systematic sampling technique. The data were collected using an interview-administered written questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was conducted to obtain a summary value for each variable. All variables with a p value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors that were significantly associated with the outcome variable. A p value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. The data are presented in statements, tables, and graphs. Results A total of 405 patients were included in the study. Of these, 35.2% reported forgone care. The most frequently stated reason for forgoing care was the financial burden resulting from the costs of disease treatment (46.3%). According to the final multivariable regression model, the odds of receiving care among hypertensive patients who did not have community-based health insurance were 2.754 times greater than those among those who did. The odds of receiving care among hypertensive patients who did not have family support were 2.31 times greater than those among patients who had family support. Conclusion and recommendation: A considerable number of patients with hypertension had a history of forgoing care, and the most important reasons for forgoing care were related to financial pressure and lack of family support for receiving treatment. A qualitative study is needed to further investigate the underlying reasons why hypertensive patients forgo healthcare.