KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERSABOUT HYPERTENSION AND TYPE II DIABETES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN NAM DINH PROVINCE

Abstract

Objective: To describe knowledge of community Health Workers about hypertension and type II diabetes. Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study design was carried out in 2020. There were 168 community Health Workers from 15 communes/wards in Nam Dinh province participating in the study. The data were collected by direct interview method. Results: the percentage of subjects with knowledge about risk factors for hypertension and diabetes reached from 75% to 97.6%. About 80% of community Health Workers recognize that population aging and lifestyle changes are two of the reasons for the increase in disease prevalence. The percentage of subjects with correct knowledge about the threshold for diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes was 70.8% and 78.6%, respectively. 100% of the subjects were aware that the consequences of the disease caused complications, but the rate of recognition of the consequences increased the burden on the health system and the role of disease management in improving quality, survival was low (4.8%; 14.9%; 23.2% and 23.8%). Conclusion: The community Health Workers in Nam Dinh province had basic knowledge about hypertension and diabetes. The best group of knowledge is knowledge about disease risk factors, the lowest knowledge about the importance of disease management activities. It is still necessary to organize regular quality training programs for community Health Workers, and at the same time to review more frequently the training programs and contents for this target group.