[Knowledge of the rural population on factors promoting the emergence of arterial hypertension].

A random sample of the rural community (two villages) were examined by means of questionnaire. Seventy-four percent of the community could not denote any risk factors of arterial hypertension. A very low percentage were informed of the role played by sodium chloride in the genesis of hypertension. Moreover, the community was very poorly informed of the adverse effects of overweight, tobacco smoking, and alcohol abuse. Excess use of sodium chloride was likely to be one of the causes promoting high prevalence of arterial hypertension. Some of the people were of opinion that arterial blood pressure might be influenced by definite nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The data obtained point to a low enough level of hygienic knowledge of the rural community regarding arterial hypertension risk factors. It is concluded that high prevalence of arterial hypertension risk factors and the low level of information of those factors provide evidence in favour of carrying out large-scale measures aimed at primary prophylaxis of arterial hypertension in the rural community. It is stressed that one should begin with the raising of the hygienic knowledge standards of the community.