Determinants Of Uncontrolled Hypertension In Gweru City Zimbabwe 2015.

Hypertension in Zimbabwe was ranked highest among non-communicable diseases recorded in the out-patients registers in 2006. This study was aimed at investigating the determinants of uncontrolled hypertension in Gweru urban among patients aged 45-80years. An unmatched 11 case-control study design was used. Data was collected through interview-guided questionnaires from outpatients registered on the chronic disease registers at the 7 City Council Clinics of Gweru in 2015. The majority of the study participants were female 77 males 23 and 72 of the participants were 60years and above. Knowledge on hypertension was poor with 86 of participants stating that hypertension is curable. Independent risk factors in the study included being unhappy with clinic services OR 4.6 95 CI 1.7039-12.5185 eating fried food OR 2.77 95 CI 1.0185-7.5363 experiencing side effects OR 3.2 95 CI 1.168-9.1866 and factors less likely to lead to uncontrolled hypertension included being less than 60years OR 0.49 95 CI 0.2298-0.5162 having only primary education OR 0.36 95 CI 0.1378-0.9509 receiving health education OR 0.42 95 CI 0.1841-0.9638 traveling short distances to the clinic OR 0.22 95 CI 0.0905-0.5188 exercising often OR 0.36 95 CI 0.1474-0.9036 being married OR 0.65 95 CI 0.2888-0.7855 and having a treatment partner OR 0.06 95 CI 0.0234-0.1754. It is therefore recommended that health staff should sensitize hypertensive patients on the risks of having uncontrolled hypertension. Also the patients should be educated that the anti-hypertensive medication works in combination with life style modifications.