SULONG BACUYONG
Increased Prevalence of Uncontrolled Hypertension
THE PROBLEM
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is the most common condition seen in primary care and is regarded as a biomarker for risk of developing cardiovascular events leading to myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and death if not detected early and treated appropriately. According to the Department of Health (2010), hypertension ranked 4th in the top ten leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines. In the community of Barangay Bacuyong, Municipality of Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte, records showed that Hypertension is the 3rd leading cause of morbidity and the complications associated with hypertension (e.g. Multi-organ Malfunction, Stroke and Cardiopulmonary Arrest) are the top leading cause of mortality (Rural Health Unit Morbidity and Mortality Record, 2015).
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Hypertension is caused by a multiple number of factors. Controlling blood pressure has to be a priority. Most people with uncontrolled hypertension know that they have high blood pressure and we believe that if we can increase their knowledge about the nature of the disease, it can be a determining factor on their compliance to anti hypertensive medication and behavioral modifications to decrease the incidence of hypertension and prevent the occurrence of the complications.
In April 2016, a BP evaluation data was collected from the Rural Health Unit Morbidity and Mortality Record (2016) done in Barangay Bacuyong showing that out of 560 individuals aged 20 years old and above who had their BP reading checked:
- 129 individuals (23.0% of total adult population) were diagnosed hypertensive individuals.
- 28 out of 129 of them have controlled blood pressures (21.70% controlled BP)
- 101 out of 129 have uncontrolled blood pressure (78.29%, with or without maintenance medications).
THE OBJECTIVE
To decrease the number of uncontrolled hypertensive individuals from 91.67% to 50% in Barangay Bacuyong, Municipality of Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte by the year 2019.
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PROPOSED SOLUTION
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Conduct BP Taking through house-to-house survey
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Create a master list of hypertensive individuals identified
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Create a hypertensive spot map that will serve as a guide for monitoring purposes.
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BP Rangers
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Conduct a “Trainer’s Training” for the core group twice a year
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Conduct a purok assembly
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Conduct health teaching on hypertension
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Smoking and Alcoholic Beverage Control Campaign
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Conduct an exercise program “ZUMBAcuyong”
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Conduct an outreach program in collaboration with health professionals for diagnosis, follow-up, monitoring and counseling
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Utilize the COMPACK program of DOH
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Establish a referral system
The outcome​
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The BP Stations were established strategically within the area of the barangay. Each station was established to each houses of the members of the BP Rangers which made it a cost – effective strategy. That is at least 2 stations to each purok. This structure is useful in the barangay as it gives more access to the residents to have their BP checked since they do not need to wait for the monthly visit of the midwife in the barangay. This strategy empowered them to work not only for self-gain but also for the benefit of others.
The group also produced and distributed a hypertension wellness poster inspired and adapted from DOH posters to each identified hypertensive individual in the barangay that serve as a daily reminder for the hypertensive population to take their maintenance medication.
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The group had introduced zumba dancing as the exercise of choice because the combination of modern and Latin dance music makes the activity more enjoyable for the participants of the program and it enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness for at least 30 minutes of regular moderate to high intensity physical activity, as per recommendation of the DOH.
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