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CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 27, No 4, July/August 2016
AFRICA
e1
Cardiovascular Topics
Management of arterial hypertension in Cotonou city,
Benin: general practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and
practice
Martin Dèdonougbo Houenassi, Léopold Houétondji Codjo, David Dokoui, Serge Hugues Mahougnon
Dohou, Armand Wanvoegbe, Anthelme Agbodande, Angelo Cossi Attinsounon, Adebayo Alassani,
Séraphin Ahoui, Albert Comlan Dovonou, Thierry Armel Adoukonou
Abstract
Objective:
We aimed to assess the management of hyperten-
sive patients by general practitioners in Cotonou city.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study based on a multi-
centre survey conducted from 1 May to 31 July 2011. We
recruited all consenting general practitioners who worked in
public and private centres in Cotonou city. We used the 7th
report of the Joint National Committee to assess the manage-
ment of hypertension by general practitioners. A tested and
validated self-questionnaire was used to collect the data on
hypertension management by general practitioners.
Results:
In eight centres that approved the study, 41 general
practitioners were included. The definition of hypertension
was known by 20 (48.8%) practitioners. Only 25 (61.0%) could
describe the conditions for blood pressure measurement. Ten
of them were unable to list half of the minimum recom-
mended tests for hypertension, and the majority (92.7%) did
not have any idea of global cardiovascular risk. The blood
pressure goal was known by only 18 (43.9%) practitioners.
Lifestyle (82.9%) and monotherapy (70.7%) were the thera-
peutic modalities most prescribed. Antihypertensive agents
commonly used by practitioners were calcium channel block-
ers (82.9%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (53.7%)
and diuretics (36.6%). The general practitioners referred their
patients to cardiologists mainly for uncontrolled hypertension
(63.4%) and the onset of acute complications (56.1%).
Conclusion:
The general practitioners’ knowledge of hyper-
tension was insufficient and their management did not reflect
international guidelines.
Keywords:
management, arterial hypertension, general practi-
tioners, knowledge, attitudes and practice, Africa
Submitted 29/7/15, accepted 7/12/15
Cardiovasc J Afr
2016;
27
: e1–e6
www.cvja.co.zaDOI : 10.5830/CVJA-2015-094
Health Unit, Education and Research in Cardiology, Faculty
of Health, University of Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin
Martin Dèdonougbo Houenassi, PhD
David Dokoui, MD
Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty
of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Bénin
Léopold Houétondji Codjo, MD,
leostelles@yahoo.frAngelo Cossi Attinsounon, MD
Adebayo Alassani, MD
Séraphin Ahoui, MD
Albert Comlan Dovonou, MD
Thierry Armel Adoukonou, MD
Department of Cardiology, Military Teaching Hospital,
Parakou, Bénin
Serge Hugues Mahougnon Dohou, MD
Department of Internal Medicine, National University
Hubert Koutoukou Maga Hospital, Cotonou, Bénin
Armand Wanvoegbe, MD
Anthelme Agbodande, MD