Lived Experiences of People Living with Hypertension in Northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Living with hypertension influences many areas of patients’ lives, patients’ families, and the social and economic development of the country. Hence, the main objective of this study is to explore the lived experience of the people living with Hypertension, in the case of Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods The study employed a qualitative research approach and used in-depth interviews as the method of collecting data. The researchers used purposive sampling techniques to recruit the study participants. In this study, 12 interviewees participated and the findings of the study were analyzed through qualitative interpretative phenomenological data analysis methods. Results The findings highlight that living with hypertension disrupts the entire life of the participants by restricting them from social groupings and activities. It also affects their sense of identity, work, and productivity, and it is becoming a financial burden on them. Conclusions The findings of this study highlight the contextual nature of the illness experience that is highly shaped by social, economic, and health system factors, which are not considered by previous medical researchers. The study calls for a shift in the way we conceptualize and address hypertension and move beyond a narrow focus on individual behaviors and biomedical interventions. The study recommends that stakeholders from different sectors must contribute to the prevention and control of hypertension and help the victims of hypertension.