Factors Associated with Hypertension Prevention Behaviors among Residents of Overcrowded Communities in Mueang Municipality, Surin Province

Abstract

The study was a cross-sectional analytical study. The objective was to investigate factors associated with hypertension prevention behaviors among residents of dense and overcrowded communities in Mueang municipality, Surin province. The sample consisted of 216 participants who were people aged more than 15 years living in dense and overcrowded communities in Mueang Surin municipality. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The results showed that 58.33% of participants were female, with a mean age of 48 years (SD = 15.53). Less than 5,000 baht was the monthly income for 52.31% of participants. Furthermore, 79.81% had no underlying disease, and 75% of participants reported that their families had no record of hypertension. Finally, 89.91% of participants had measured their blood pressure level within the past year. After statistical analysis, the results revealed several factors significantly associated with hypertension prevention behaviors (p < 0.05). Specifically, participants with a monthly income of 5,000 baht or more were 2.08 times more likely to have appropriate hypertension prevention behaviors compared to those with lower incomes (AOR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.08–3.38). Participants who had their blood pressure measured within the past year were 3.27 times more likely to engage in appropriate hypertension prevention behaviors compared to those who had never done so (AOR = 3.27, 95%CI: 1.26–8.49). Furthermore, participants with high motivation were 2.22 times more likely to exhibit appropriate hypertension prevention behaviors compared to those with lower motivation levels (AOR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.15–4.31). Therefore, public health agencies should implement proactive health promotion activities in densely-populated and overcrowded communities, particularly targeting low-income residents to improve their access to health service information. These interventions should emphasize knowledge enhancement, strengthen motivation, and support basic health screening services for community residents. Moreover, programs should develop the skills of village health volunteers and residents so they can perform self-measurement and self-assessment.