• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

The Hidden Barrier To Hypertension Management In Black Communities

by Isaiah Benjamin
5 months ago
in Health
Hidden Barrier To Hypertension Management
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

Improving health literacy is not just about providing information—it‘s about breaking down barriers, empowering communities, and ensuring that every individual has the knowledge to manage their health and prevent the devastating consequences of conditions like hypertension.

Advertisement

Hypertension, known as the “silent killer,“ disproportionately impacts Black communities worldwide, including in Nigeria and the African diaspora, where systemic barriers like inequities in healthcare access, cultural stigmas, and limited health literacy hinder effective management.

Health literacy—the ability to understand and use basic health information—is a critical factor influencing treatment adherence. Low health literacy among Black individuals often results in difficulties understanding medical instructions, adhering to medication schedules, and making necessary lifestyle changes, leading to poorer health outcomes. This issue is especially acute in resource-limited settings, where access to education and healthcare support is already constrained.

In Nigeria, the challenges are compounded by a fragmented healthcare system where rural populations, including many Black Nigerians, often lack access to health education programs and qualified medical personnel. Many patients rely on overburdened healthcare workers or informal advice from non-medical sources, leading to a high prevalence of medication non-adherence. For instance, studies show that patients with limited health literacy are more likely to misunderstand dosage instructions, skip medication, or abandon treatment entirely when side effects occur, further worsening their condition.

Dr. Christiana Oyekanmi, a researcher at the University of Delaware, along with a team of esteemed scholars, has been investigating medication adherence among Black hypertension patients. Their study focused on the impact of health literacy on adherence to treatment among Black Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18–64 with hypertension in Delaware from 2016 to 2019, which was published as “Impact of Health Literacy on Medication Adherence Among Black Medicaid Beneficiaries with Hypertension in Delaware: A Cross-Sectional Study”.

RELATED

Not All Mental Health Issues Require Medication – SDF Founder

Not All Mental Health Issues Require Medication – SDF Founder

1 day ago
Our Resolve To Protect SMEs Remain Unshaken – Shettima

Nigeria Secures $2.2bn For Health Reforms

1 day ago

By categorizing health literacy into levels—below basic, basic, intermediate, or proficient—the researchers assessed adherence rates, ranging from full to partial or nonadherence. Out of 18,958 participants with at least one hypertension diagnosis, the findings revealed a strong link between limited health literacy and poor medication adherence. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve health literacy and, in turn, enhance health outcomes within this community.

Addressing health literacy requires tailored public health campaigns that meet the diverse needs of Black communities, using simplified materials in local languages, visual aids, and community-based initiatives to enhance understanding. Healthcare providers should also be trained to communicate effectively, ensuring patients comprehend their treatment plans.

This societal challenge demands collaboration among governments, healthcare institutions, and community leaders, with sustained investment in education, healthcare infrastructure, and equitable access to resources. By prioritizing these efforts, we can break down barriers to quality hypertension care and improve health outcomes for Black individuals.

The research conducted by Dr. Christiana Oyekanmi and her esteemed team sheds critical light on the intersection of health literacy and medication adherence among Black individuals with hypertension. This groundbreaking study not only highlights the barriers posed by limited health literacy but also emphasizes its significant role in influencing health outcomes.

By categorising health literacy levels and examining their correlation with medication adherence, the research provides a clear pathway for targeted interventions that can empower patients with the knowledge needed to manage hypertension effectively. Such insights are invaluable in preventing the long-term complications of poorly managed hypertension, including stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease, particularly in underserved Black communities.

Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, demonstrating how improved health literacy can encourage timely medical intervention and adherence to prescribed therapies, ultimately reducing the burden of hypertension-related health crises.

 

 

 


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

START EARNING US DOLLARS as a Nigerian ($35,000) monthly. Companies are sacking their workers due to AI (artificial intelligence), business owners are in panic mode. Only the smart will make it. Click here


Tags: Hypertension
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

LP Crisis: Why We’re Heading To Apex Court – Caretaker Committee

Next Post

NAFDAC Moves To Tackle Maternal Mortality, Staffing Deficit

Isaiah Benjamin

Isaiah Benjamin

You May Like

Not All Mental Health Issues Require Medication – SDF Founder
Health

Not All Mental Health Issues Require Medication – SDF Founder

2025/06/06
Our Resolve To Protect SMEs Remain Unshaken – Shettima
Health

Nigeria Secures $2.2bn For Health Reforms

2025/06/06
Diphtheria: Yobe Records 117 Deaths, 1,796 Cases
Health

Diphtheria Outbreak Kills 2 In Edo

2025/06/05
Centre Asks Benue Govt To Release Budgetary Allocation For Family PlanningZulum To Attend MSSN Symposium In Oyo
Health

UNICEF, Stakeholders Seek More Funding For Maternal, Child Health

2025/06/05
Nigeria Is Highest Recipient Of Intervention Aid In Africa — Bill Gates
Health

Bill Gates Set 20 Years To End Malaria In Africa

2025/06/04
Stakeholders Laud Establishment Of Women Mental Health , Drug Rehabilitation Centre
Health

Stakeholders Laud Establishment Of Women Mental Health , Drug Rehabilitation Centre

2025/06/04
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Singer Darey Art Alade, Wife Escape Unhurt After Their Car Catches Fire On 3rd Mainland Bridge

Civil War Was For Unity, Not Hatred — Gowon

Nnamdi Kanu Is Prisoner Of Conscience — IPOB

Justice Uwais: Nigeria Lost Statesman Of Unimpeachable Character, Say Northern Senators

Eid-el-Kabir: CAN Preaches Unity, Support For Flood Victims

Taraba Rep Tafida Bags ‘Best Legislator 2025’ Award

Why We Established ‘Discoverer Nigeria’ News Platform — Editor

Lawmaker Orgainses Training For Rice Farmers In Kebbi

Bauchi Govt, Tertiary Institutions Sign MoU On New Salary Structure

Kwara Man Takes ‘Colo’, Jumps Into Well After Returning From Eid Prayer, Dies

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.