Abstract
Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in South Africa (sa), particularly among individuals aged 60 and older. However, awareness of hypertension remains low within this demographic. Queues for collecting older persons grants in SA present a unique opportunity to address this gap. The know your numbers (KYN) qualitative study aimed to: (i)assess older persons’ knowledge and experiences of hypertension, (ii) identify challenges and opportunities during the KYN intervention, (iii) evaluate the acceptability of the intervention. Between April 2021 and October 2022, 26 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 214 older persons (71.5% women) in rural Mpumalanga province, SA, who collected grants from six locations. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Before the intervention, many participants were unaware of hypertension symptoms and viewed it as a lifestyle disease. Adherence to medication was hindered by stigma and financial barriers. Many older persons relied on traditional healers, and access to hypertension treatment was difficult due to the distance to clinics and the cost of transport. Clinical services were often perceived as unsatisfactory. Despite challenges in understanding educational materials, participants valued the blood pressure screening provided by the intervention and suggested expanding the initiative to include services like medication distribution and monitoring of other metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. The KYN intervention was well-received by older persons in grant collection queues, leading to improved hypertension knowledge and awareness. These queues offer a promising avenue for expanding screening and referral services for other chronic conditions.
Presenters
Jane SimmondsResearch Manager, South African Medical Research Council, Western Cape, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Hypertension, Grant Collection Points, Older Persons, Community-Based Interventions, South Africa
