Exploring the type of social support available to aged male hypertensive clients in Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Objective To explores the social support available to aged hypertensive male clients in a municipality in Ghana. Methods The inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥60 years and are known hypertensive patients. Data were collected from 186 selected aged male hypertensive patients for 3 months. The questionnaire was self-developed and open-ended. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Some of the variables were subjected to statistical tests and ranks in the order of importance to respondents. The enrolled respondents were allowed to participate in the study after their informed consent was obtained. It was evident that respondents do not obtain much support or help in taking care of their condition. Results The result revealed that the repondents has no support to help take care of their condition as evident by the responses in the study. The scores on average mean for some variables are (AM = 2.25, SD = 0.381) more than the test value of 2.50. Some of these supports were on feeding support (M = 3.97, SD = 0.278, n = 186), health support (M = 2.87, SD = 0.167, n = 186), and cleaning support (M = 2.59, SD = 0.868, n = 186). Supports such as clothing, socialization, medication, washing, transportation, and financial support were lacking. Conclusions Based on the finding that certain forms of support were lacking, the study concludes that steps undertaken by the government, community, religious bodies, and family toward improving these supports can be of immense help for aged male hypertensive patients living in the Ejura-Sekyedumase municipality.