Abstract:
Background: Hypertension is a major cause of death worldwide with an estimate of 1.3 billion people
having the condition. In low-income countries, the prevalence is increasing with urban areas being more
affected that rural area. Although it has been demonstrated that the Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure in hypertensive adults, little is known about dietary
adherence and associated factors among hypertensive patients in the study area.
Objective: to assess adherence to recommended diet and associated factors in hypertension patients in
the public hospitals of Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia.
Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 386 hypertensive
patients at Ambo Town Public hospitals from May 15 to June 15, 2024. The study participants were
selected with systematic random sampling techniques. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured
face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire and entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to
SPSS version 25.0 software for analysis. Then the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were
assessed using the Cronbach’s alpha test (α≥0.70) Descriptive statistics were used to summarize
descriptive data. Binary logistic regression analysis was computed and variables with p-value < 0.25 were
considered candidates for multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95%
confidence interval was used to identify the association. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value
<0.05.
Results:- Among the Participants, only 41.10%,95% (CI: 36.10, 46.30) of respondents were found to be
adherent to the recommended diet. Factors like respondents’ age within fourty to fifty nine
(AOR=3.83,95% CI =1.82-8.05), Good knowledge of hypertension (AOR=2.71,95%CI=1.59-4.62),
Education level college and above (AOR=3.27,95% CI=1.31-8.14),Moderate social support
(AOR=2.10,95% CI =1.10-4.02) and Strong Social support (AOR=4.02, 95% CI=1.92-8.40) showed a
strong association with adherence to recommended dietary guidelines.
Conclusions:- Generally, the findings showed that participants had low adherence to dietary
recommendations in comparison to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
recommendations. Educational levels, knowledge of hyper-tension, age of respondents and social support
were significant factors in the adherence to the recommended diet. Therefore, in order to improve
adherence to dietary standards and encourage a healthy dietary pattern, it is imperative to provide
hypertension patients with health and nutrition education. The findings of this study will also be helpful in
raising public and policymakers' awareness of the dietary Adherence and associated factors
