Studies from Ambrose Alli University Further Understanding of Hypertension (Medication adherence and blood pressure control: A preliminary assessment of the role of health insurance in Nigeria and Ghana): Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions – Hypertension

2023 FEB 15 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Business Daily -- New research on hypertension is the subject of a new report. According to news reporting out of Ambrose Alli University by NewsRx editors, research stated, “This study sought to assess the current impact of health insurance coverage on medication adherence and blood pressure control of patients being managed for hypertension in Ghana and Nigeria.”

Funders for this research include S-cart Pilot Grant Program.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Ambrose Alli University: “The study was a prospective study among 109 patients with hypertension in two health facilities with similar population dynamics in Ghana and Nigeria. Patients were systematically selected, categorized as having health insurance coverage or not, and followed up monthly for 6 months. The outcome variables (medication adherence and blood pressure control) were then measured and compared at 6 months. Analysis was done using Stata with level of significance set at p 0.05. There was a 90% insurance coverage among participants from Ghana compared to 15% from Nigeria. National Health Insurance Authority enrolees in both countries had better blood pressure control and medication adherence compared to non-enrolees (adjusted odds ratio = 2.6 and 4.5, respectively).”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “National Health Insurance Authority enrolment was found to be poor among respondents in Nigeria compared to Ghana. Enrolment into the National health financing schemes in both countries led to better blood pressure control and medication adherence among patients with hypertension at primary health facilities. There is therefore the need for system strengthening to improve their sustainability.”

For more information on this research see: Medication adherence and blood pressure control: A preliminary assessment of the role of health insurance in Nigeria and Ghana. SAGE Open Medicine, 2023,11. (SAGE Open Medicine - http://smo.sagepub.com/). The publisher for SAGE Open Medicine is SAGE Publishing.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121231152324.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni, Ambrose Alli University College of Medicine, Ekpoma, Nigeria. Additional authors for this research include Paa-Kwesi Blankson, Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo, Fiifi Duodu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Sulyman Biodun Alabi, Bamidele O Tayo, Daniel F Sarpong, Mary Amoakoh-Coleman, Vincent Boima, Gbenga Ogedegbe.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)