Impact of a Community-Based Hypertension Awareness Campaign on Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions in Malicounda, Senegal: A Pre-Post Study
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healthcareRecord type:
paper
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MalAbdSerElh
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Introduction: Faced with the growing burden of hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in West Africa, screening and awareness campaigns are essential community interventions. This study aimed to assess changes in participants' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) before and immediately after a community awareness campaign on hypertension conducted in Malicounda (Mbour, Senegal), while also describing participants' clinical profile and determinants of hypertension.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study without a control group was conducted among 291 adult participants recruited through convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and clinical data, cardiovascular risk factors and KAP indicators were collected before (pre-test) and immediately after (post-test) the educational intervention. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. Descriptive analyses, bivariate analyses (McNemar's test and paired Student's t-test), and multiple logistic regression were used to identify independent determinants of hypertension.
Results: The mean age was 48.2 ± 10.1 years and 57.0% of participants were women. The prevalence of hypertension was 89.0%. The overall knowledge score increased significantly from 3.18/7 before the intervention to 5.84/7 after the intervention (p < 0.001). Significant improvements were observed for recognition of hypertension risk factors including salt intake (41.9% vs 82.1%), smoking (48.8% vs 84.9%), diabetes (47.8% vs 81.4%), stress (39.5% vs 83.5%), and physical inactivity (41.9% vs 84.5%) (all p < 0.001). The intention to monitor blood pressure regularly increased from 53.6% to 86.3% (p < 0.001).
Discussion:The campaign significantly improved immediate knowledge and preventive intentions among participants. It highlights the operational usefulness for reassessment and awareness-raising. Age and diabetic comorbidity are the primary targets for enhanced screening. The gap between improved knowledge and the intention to change behavior should encourage the integration of support strategies for change (coaching, follow-up) in future interventions.
Conclusion: This pre-post study demonstrates the immediate effectiveness of community awareness campaigns in improving knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding hypertension. To measure the real and lasting impact of health practices, it is essential to carry out a pre- and post-campaign evaluation study with longitudinal follow-up of participants.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study without a control group was conducted among 291 adult participants recruited through convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and clinical data, cardiovascular risk factors and KAP indicators were collected before (pre-test) and immediately after (post-test) the educational intervention. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. Descriptive analyses, bivariate analyses (McNemar's test and paired Student's t-test), and multiple logistic regression were used to identify independent determinants of hypertension.
Results: The mean age was 48.2 ± 10.1 years and 57.0% of participants were women. The prevalence of hypertension was 89.0%. The overall knowledge score increased significantly from 3.18/7 before the intervention to 5.84/7 after the intervention (p < 0.001). Significant improvements were observed for recognition of hypertension risk factors including salt intake (41.9% vs 82.1%), smoking (48.8% vs 84.9%), diabetes (47.8% vs 81.4%), stress (39.5% vs 83.5%), and physical inactivity (41.9% vs 84.5%) (all p < 0.001). The intention to monitor blood pressure regularly increased from 53.6% to 86.3% (p < 0.001).
Discussion:The campaign significantly improved immediate knowledge and preventive intentions among participants. It highlights the operational usefulness for reassessment and awareness-raising. Age and diabetic comorbidity are the primary targets for enhanced screening. The gap between improved knowledge and the intention to change behavior should encourage the integration of support strategies for change (coaching, follow-up) in future interventions.
Conclusion: This pre-post study demonstrates the immediate effectiveness of community awareness campaigns in improving knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding hypertension. To measure the real and lasting impact of health practices, it is essential to carry out a pre- and post-campaign evaluation study with longitudinal follow-up of participants.
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