[ study of knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on hypertension at villages of Yazd - 1384]

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Statistics indicates the high rate of hypertension in Iran [11.5%] and in yazd the highest [19.3%]. Regarding the role that inappropriate diet plays in causing hypertension as well as mothers' role in nutritional management of family and in adopting and administrating health instructions, this study was carried out to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers in villages of Yazd. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was collected by a standard questionnaire. 363 mothers, their health being controlled by Health Service Centers, were selected by simple sampling and the data was analyzed by SPSS. 92.4% of the mothers knew that salt overuse can act as a factor affecting hypertension. According to most of the mothers [76.1% and 73.8%] hypertension has a good effect on stroke and heart attack respectively. Mothers' knowledge mean score on hypertension was 16.4 +/- 3. 68.3% of mothers had an average knowledge on hypertension and merely 23.1% enjoyed a good knowledge in this regard. In this study, there was no significant relationship between disparity of the average knowledge score among various academic and business groups [P>0.05]. However the relationship between mothers' knowledge score and informed threat score was significant. Media was the most important source of information for mothers [47.5%]. Mothers regarded daily chores as the most effective factor on lack of hypertension control. 32% of the patients were on a diet and 60% used medicine prescribed by their physicians. No one believed that drugs are of no use on hypertension control. Generally, the results showed the good knowledge of mothers about effective factors on hypertension and their complications. But, mothers' attitude and practice on prevention and control of hypertension wasn't acceptable. It was suggested that an extensive educational program should be planned to promote knowledge, attitude and practice of the people especially mothers on the problem