Knowledge and beliefs about hypertension among Jamaican female clients.

Hypertension is a major health problem in the Caribbean Region. If health promotion programs are to be appropriate and effective, the clients' knowledge and beliefs regarding this chronic health problem need to be identified. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level and beliefs about hypertension among female clients attending primary health care clinics in Jamaica, West Indies. Data were collected from 240 female clients with the use of a pretested interview schedule. Findings indicated that the respondents were of low socio-economic status, lacked knowledge regarding the predisposing factors and characteristics of the disease and had a number of misconceptions surrounding the illness. Implications for nurses and health care providers are discussed with suggestions for future research.