Factors associated with knowledge of hypertension risk factors and symptoms among Gambian women: A cross-sectional study based on the Gambia Demographic and Health Survey

Background: We examined the factors associated with knowledge of hypertension risk factors and symptoms among Gambian women.

Methods: This cross-section study was based on 11, 865 female participants (aged 15-49 years) of The Gambia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-2020. We performed descriptive statistics, and multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models.

Results: Only 34.89 % and 36.82 % of the participants knew at least one risk factor and symptom of hypertension, respectively. Women who had never measured their blood pressure had a reduced odds of knowing a hypertension risk factor (OR = 0.68; 95 %CI: 0.60---0.77; P < 0.01) and symptom (OR = 0.56; 95 %CI: 0.49---0.64; P < 0.01). Compared to women with higher education, those with no education had a lower odds of knowing a hypertension risk factor (OR = 0.18; 95 %CI: 0.12---0.27; P < 0.01) and symptom (OR = 0.32; 95 %CI: 0.23---0.45; P < 0.01). Similarly, women who never used the internet had reduced odds of mentioning a hypertension risk factor (OR = 0.55; 95 %CI: 0.48---0.61; P < 0.01) and symptom (OR = 0.61; 95 %CI: 0.54---0.69; P < 0.01). Those who never watched television had decreased odds of knowing a hypertension risk factor (OR = 0.74; 95 %CI: 0.63--0.86; P < 0.01) and symptoms (OR = 0.68; 95 %CI: 0.58---0.80; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Fewer women could mention at least one hypertension risk factor and symptom. We also found that knowledge of hypertension risk factors and symptoms was associated with education level and socio-economic status.