Self-Management Strategies in Outpatients with Hypertension under Treatment in Rural Communities

Abstract

Hypertension is already a problem faced by South African urban populations, but little is known about the predominance, chance factors, and self-management strategies of hypertension in rural areas. Hypertension has an increased mortality and morbidity rate, thus has been identified as the killer disease in rural communities as its prevalence is increasing year by year. Non-attendance of hypertensive patients in rural communities has been identified as one of the most pressing issues in chronic illness, including hypertension, management and results into uncontrolled illnesses. Hypertensive patients lack self-management strategies to maintain their quality of life when diagnosed. Therefore, this book chapter is aimed at exploring the knowledge of self-management and strategies used in outpatients with hypertension under treatment in rural communities. Seven major themes were identified: paradoxical description; adherence to treatment and medication instructions, medical follow-up visits at the health facility, healthy lifestyle; management of emotions; defense mechanisms and religious interventions. Patients faced obstacles such as not eating a healthy diet since they are not the ones cooking, and children are always generating problems for them, leading their blood pressure and blood glucose levels to rise. Additional efforts are needed in rural communities to promote hypertension and self-management measures through educational programs.