Investigating the Availability of Nutrition Management Service for Hypertensive Elderly People In Khubetsoana And Thamae Health Centers

Abstract

Many elderly people have hypertension, and health systems are faced with the challenge of responding to the needs of this population. The availability of Nutrition Management Service (NMS) in Out Patient Department (OPD) services is one of the strategies that have the potential to control these patients' blood pressure. The study sought to investigate the availability of NMS for the hypertensive outpatient elderly in Thamae Health Centre and Khubetsona Health Centre. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. NMS was found to be available in the facilities, but incomplete. Of all the patients followed, 16.2% received nutrition counseling and 9.5% received nutrition follow-up, but none of them received nutrition screening. NMS is available in the facilities but it is incomplete, due to many factors which originate from the planners' failure to plan for it.