Authors: Destaw Fetene Teshome, Shitaye Alemu Balcha, Tadesse Awoke Ayele, Asmamaw Atnafu, Mekonnen Sisay, Marye Getnet Asfaw, Getnet Mitike, Kassahun Alemu Gelaye
In this cross-sectional study, researchers sought to assess the ability of health extension workers, HEWs, to identify cases of high blood pressure among adults in northwest Ethiopia. From June to October, 2020, researchers collected a sample of 1,177 people from the Dabat and Gondar Zuria districts. A three-day training on hypertension and blood pressure was provided to 20 HEWs and 5 health care professionals. During the study, HEWs took the first blood pressure reading followed by a second measure taken by a health professional after a five minute rest. A third reading was taken by a health professional after 30 minutes. Overall, study HEWs identified 219 cases of high blood pressure, while health professionals identified 229 cases. After analysis, researchers found that HEWs were able to identify nearly 96 percent of all high blood pressure diagnoses within the sample. The results of this study suggest that HEWs have the potential to perform highly in this area, and may therefore contribute towards the early detection of hypertension.
Link: Trained health extension workers correctly identify high blood pressure in rural districts of northwest Ethiopia: a diagnostic accuracy study
Download Resource
Resource Topic: Health extension workers (HEWs), Hypertension, Training
Resource Type: Research
Year: 2022
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Ethiopia
Publisher May Restrict Access: No