Beyond Intention: Barriers to Undergoing a Blood Pressure Check in the South-West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

Hypertension is often asymptomatic, progresses slowly, and leads to multiple secondary diseases. Thus, a regular blood pressure check is recommended. The objective of this study is to assess the intention to undergo a blood pressure check and its associated factors among adults in Southwest Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.

A healthcare-facility-based cross-sectional design was utilized. A standardized questionnaire, adapted from previous research, was administered by trained interviewers. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors the intention to undergo blood pressure checks is associated with, utilizing SPSS version 27.

Four hundred twenty-one participants provided a complete response, yielding a 99.7% response rate. Of these participants, 153 (36%) had had their blood pressure checked at some point. The vast majority of the study participants (387, 91.9%) did not know the normal blood pressure range. The median score for intention to undergo blood pressure check was 11 (interquartile range 10-13). Female participants were 59% less likely (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.408, 95% confidence interval 0.208-0.801) to intend to undergo a blood pressure check than male participants. Participants in the poorest wealth quintile were 82% less likely (AOR 0.183, 95% CI = 0.063-0.533) to intend to undergo a blood pressure check than those in the richest quintile. Participants who intended to undergo a blood pressure check had a significantly favorable attitude (t = 10.801, p < 0.001) and lower perceived behavioral control (t = -2.865, p < 0.001) compared with those who had no intention of checking.

A high intent to undergo a blood pressure check should prompt healthcare facilities to offer regular blood pressure check-up services. Behavioral change communication interventions should address the attitude and perceived behavioral controls of individuals associated with the intention to undergo a blood pressure check. In doing so, special attention should be given to female and economically disadvantaged populations.