Religious Leaders as Trusted Messengers in Combatting Hypertension in Rural Tanzanian Communities
| Autor: | Valencia J. Lambert, Fredrick Kalokola, Elialilia S. Okello, Radhika Sundararajan, Jennifer A. Downs, Godfrey A Kisigo, Robert N. Peck, Ndalloh Paul, Evarist Laizer, Agrey H. Mwakisole, Louise Walshe, Aneth Nzali |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
media_common.quotation_subject Rural Health 030204 cardiovascular system & hematology Trust Tanzania 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Nursing Perception Internal Medicine medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine media_common Hypertension control Interpretative phenomenological analysis Religious Personnel Rural tanzania business.industry Public health Blood pressure Hypertension Complications of hypertension Brief Communications business Qualitative research |
| Zdroj: | Am J Hypertens |
| ISSN: | 1941-7225 0895-7061 |
| Popis: | Background Hypertension is a growing public health emergency in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the known influence of religious leaders in rural sub-Saharan Africa and our prior research, we explored perspectives of religious leaders on hypertension and potential strategies to improve hypertension control in their communities. Methods We conducted 31 in-depth interviews with Christian (n = 17) and Muslim (n = 14) religious leaders in rural Tanzania. Interviews focused on religious leaders’ perceptions of hypertension and how they could play a role in promoting blood pressure reduction. We used interpretative phenomenological analysis, a qualitative research method, to understand religious leaders’ perspectives on, and experiences with, hypertension. Results Three main themes emerged during analysis. First, we found that perceptions about causes, treatment, and complications of hypertension are influenced by religious beliefs. Second, religious beliefs can enable engagement with hypertension care through religious texts that support the use of biomedical care. Third, religious leaders are enthusiastic potential partners for promoting hypertension control in their communities. These themes were consistent between religion and gender of the religious leaders. Conclusions Religious leaders are eager to learn about hypertension, to share this knowledge with others and to contribute to improved health in their communities. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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