Prevalence and Correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Cam) Use Among Hypertensive Patients in Tamale, Ghana

Abstract

When it comes to chronic conditions like hypertension, patient health outcomes are tightly linked to adherence to orthodox care. And Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) use may harm patient healthcare outcomes concerning poor antihypertensive medications adherence. The purpose of the study was to assess the use of CAM among hypertensive patients of TTH for management of hypertension. An analytic cross-sectional design was adopted for this study, using the method of survey for quantitative data. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The bivariate analysis was done using Chi-square to determine factors associated with CAM use. And predictors of CAM use were identified using the multiple logistics regression model. A survey was done for 131 participants, the average age of the hypertensive study participants was 56.9 ±15.5 years, and more than half (58.9%) of the respondents were females. The prevalence of CAM use was 24.6%. Factors with significant association with CAM use among the study participants were; Respondents' level of education, age, duration of hypertension illness, and comorbidity condition predicted CAM use. In conclusion, CAM use was high and, this may lead to anti-hypertensive medication non-compliance.