Self-care behavior and related factors in older adults with hypertension in Ahvaz City

High blood pressure is the most important public health problem in developing countries. The implementation of self-care regarding its cost-effectiveness seems necessary. The aim of conducting this study was to investigate factors associated with self-care behaviors in elderly with hypertension. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2017 on 300 elderly with hypertension who were under the treatment in community health centers in Ahvaz city. The data were collected through a demographic form and a self-care assessing instrument for hypertension. The collected data were put in the SPSS and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics t-test, Spearman and Pearson correlation and ANOVA tests at significant level of P<0.05. based on hypertension self-care and its relationship with demographic factors. Findings: Of 300 elderlies, 54/3% were woman that the most of them were married (80/7%), with average economic status (59.7%) and under diploma (73/66%). The mean and standard deviation of total self care were 55/92±8/94. The results showed that there was a significantly positive relationship between self-care and hypertension history, income, and education level(p<0/05). However, there was no significant relationship between self-care and the variables of age, gender, and coincident disease(p>0/05). Considering the importance of self-care in controlling hypertension and obtaining low self-care scores by the poorly literate elderly with low income, it is suggested that the age group be educated adequately through the extensive implementation of audio-visually educational programs.