Views of hypertension among young African Americans who vary in their risk of developing hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To describe beliefs about hypertension and health education of young African American adults varying in their hypertension risk status.


METHODS
Fifty-eight African American young adults (17-20 years) were selected based on low and high risk criteria for hypertension assessed in earlier investigations of hemodynamic responses to stress. The sample included 15 high risk males, 13 low risk males, 14 high risk females, and 16 low risk females who were interviewed indepth about their hypertension beliefs and health education experiences. Variable-based matrices identified participants with similar responses.


RESULTS
Overall, participants had a limited understanding of hypertension. For example, they linked the condition to eating a diet high in pork and fat and having a positive family history of hypertension with little acknowledgement of weight, smoking, race and sex as key contributors to hypertension onset. Distinctions were found between risk categories and along sex lines. Most high risk participants believed stress could cause hypertension. High risk females believed that they were at risk for developing hypertension but lacked prevention strategies. High risk males were generally uninformed about risk or prevention. More low risk females believed in prevention compared to few low risk males. Participants reported little formal health education about hypertension and recommended that hypertension education be improved through more effective and relevant approaches in high school health education classes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the need for comprehensive and revitalized hypertension prevention programs for young African Americans. Participant views varied with hypertension risk status and gender suggesting that targeted educational efforts should reflect these differences.
Savoca
Margaret R
MR
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 309 Stone Bldg, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. mrsavoca@uncg.edu
Quandt
Sara A
SA
Evans
Conner D
CD
Flint
Tara L
TL
Bradfield
Allison G
AG
Morton
Tiffany B
TB
Harshfield
Gregory A
GA
Ludwig
David A
DA