AWARENESS AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR HYPERTENSION PREVENTION AMONG PATIENTS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Hypertension has continued to significantly affect morbidity and mortality rate, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This study assessed Awareness and Behavioral Responses to Public Health Interventions for Hypertension Prevention among Patients in selected Health Facilities in Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 281 hypertensive patients from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that 58.4% of respondents demonstrated good awareness of public health strategies, with health education talks (72.6%) being the most recognized approach. Regarding behavioral change, 54.8% reported positive lifestyle modifications, particularly in blood pressure monitoring (63.2%) and salt reduction (57.6%), while only 41.5% consistently engaged in physical activity. Most respondents (66.7%) perceived public health campaigns as highly impactful in improving knowledge of hypertension prevention. However, 61.3% reported significant challenges to adherence, including financial constraints (74.0%), lack of time (62.5%), and cultural dietary preferences (55.9%). The study concludes that although awareness and perceived impact are relatively high, translation into sustained behavioral change remains suboptimal due to persistent socioeconomic and structural barriers. Strengthening patient-centered and context-specific interventions is recommended to improve hypertension prevention outcomes.