Health seeking behaviour and self-care among hypertensive and diabetics at risk of CKD in Buea, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a major public health concern in Cameroon, particularly among individuals with hypertension and diabetes, who face significant barriers to effective disease management.

AIM: This prospective cohort study aimed to assess CKD awareness, healthcare-seeking behaviours, and self-care management practices among hypertensive and/or diabetic patients at risk of CKD.

SETTING

The study was conducted from September 2022 to April 2024 among 400 participants attending four healthcare facilities in the Buea Health District, Cameroon.

METHODS

Structured questionnaires collected data on socio-demographics, clinical status, CKD knowledge and self-care adherence, with logistic regression analysing associations between risk factors and outcomes.

RESULTS

The study revealed alarming gaps in CKD knowledge, with only 35% of participants recognising hypertension and diabetes as primary risk factors. Misconceptions were widespread, including 90% falsely believing urine colour reliably indicates kidney health. Self-care practices were inconsistent: while dietary adherence was relatively high (97.3% avoided excess salt, 88.5% consumed vegetables regularly), critical monitoring behaviours were neglected - only 15.2% underwent regular renal check-ups, and 29.8% monitored blood pressure at home. Hypertension was strongly associated with CKD (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-14.67), whereas diabetes alone showed no significant link. Socio-demographic disparities further compounded these challenges, with tertiary-educated participants demonstrating better CKD awareness than those with primary education (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore systemic deficiencies in CKD prevention and management, including poor health literacy, financial barriers and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.

CONTRIBUTION: To mitigate CKD's growing burden, policymakers must prioritise community-based education, subsidised screening programmes and improved access to monitoring tools. Culturally tailored interventions, integrating patient empowerment and health system strengthening, are urgently needed to enhance early detection and long-term outcomes in resource-limited settings like Cameroon.