Publications

Globally, uncontrolled hypertension is a health priority since it raises the risk for the onset of renal failure, heart disease,and diabetes. Hypertension complications contribute to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Optimal blood pressurecan be achieved by putting in place strategies that encourage routine physical activity engagement and intake of healthydiets among hypertensive patients. Patient-related factors which include unhealthy dietary practices, poor nutritionstatus, and physical inactivity have been identified to be the main hindrances in hypertension management. This researchaimed at determining the dietary practices, physical activity level, and nutrition status of hypertensive patients attendingRugazi Health Centre IV in Rubirizi District, South Western Uganda. A cross-sectional analytical research design wasadopted; the respondents were selected using a systematic random sampling method. The study was conducted on asample of 134 hypertensive patients. Dietary practices were established by the use of a 24-hour dietary recall and a sevendayfood frequency questionnaire. The World Health Organisation global physical activity questionnaire was used tomeasure the physical activity level. Anthropometric parameters were used to assess the nutrition status. A pretestedquestionnaire was used to collect demographic and socioeconomic status data. Data analysis was done by use of astatistical package for social science. The respondent’s dietary practices, physical activity level, nutrition status, anddemographic and socio-economic characteristics of the study population were described by use of descriptive statistics.The results were presented in the form of graphs and frequency tables. The study population had poor nutrition status asrevealed by the high prevalence of overweight and obesity at 82.1%. The majority of the study participants had unhealthydietary practices with intake of diets high in sugar, cholesterol, and energy-dense snacks and low in vitamins andminerals. Of the 134 respondents, 79.1% had uncontrolled blood pressure. Low physical activity level was reported bymost (63.0%) participants. Dietary practices were significantly associated with nutrition status. A positive significantrelationship was found between dietary intake of carbohydrates (r=0.683, p<0.001) and cereals (r=0.229, p=0.008), andnutrition status. Physical activity was significantly related to nutrition status at (p<0.001). The Ministry of Health andother agencies working in the sector for the control and management of hypertension may find the information collectedin this study useful