Physical Activity, Dietary Practices And Nutrition Status Of Hypertensive Patients Attending Kiambu District Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

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 pressure can be achieved by putting in

place strategies that encourage routine physical activity engagement and intake of health

diets among hypertensive patients. Patient related factors which include unhealthy dietary

practices, poor nutrition status and physical inactivity have been identified to be main

hindrances in hypertension management. Minimal information exists on the relationship

between dietary practices, physical activity and nutrition status among hypertensive

patients. These causes are researched and documented in developed countries but not in

developing countries. This research aimed at determining the dietary practices, physical

activity level and nutrition status of hypertensive patients in a developing country set up to

fill this research gap. Cross-sectional analytical research design was adopted; the

respondents were selected using systematic random sampling method. The study was

conducted on a sample of 134 hypertensive patients attending Kiambu District Hospital in

Kiambu County. Dietary practices were established by use of a 24-hour dietary recall and

a seven day food frequency questionnaire. The World Health Organisation global physical

activity questionnaire was used to measure the physical activity level. Anthropometric

parameters were used to assess the nutrition status. A pretested questionnaire was used to

collect demographic and socio-economic status data. Data analysis was done by use of

statistical package for the social science. The respondent’s dietary practices, physical

activity level, nutrition status, demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the study

population were described by use of descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to

determine the association between categorical variables like demographic, socioeconomic

status and dietary practices and nutrition status. The relationship between non-categorical

variables including physical activity level, dietary practices and nutrition status was

determined by use of Pearson correlation test. A p-value of