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Table 4 Factors inhibiting compliance with behavioral measures: thematic matrix of categories, subcategories and concepts (n = 40)

From: Perceptions of inhibitors and facilitators for adhering to hypertension treatment among insured patients in rural Nigeria: a qualitative study

A) Salt consumption

  

Category

Sub-category

Concepts

1) Local practices

Food preservation/conservation

Salt used to prevent decomposition of food [n = 3]*

Salt preserved (canned or processed) foods used [n = 5]

 

Food preparation

Salt, maggi used(in quantities) to cook/season meals [n = 14]

Extra (table) salt added to already cooked meals [n = 2]

 

Medicinal use of salt

Salted solution (salt water) used in treating stomach (abdominal) discomfort [n = 3]

2) Patient related factors

Poor hypertension knowledge

Ignorance of the influence of salt on hypertension [n = 2]

B) Weight control

  

Category

Sub-category

Concepts

1) Local practices

Perceived relationship of weight to affluence/comfort/wealth

Societal views that ‘the fatter, the more affluent, the more comfortable’ [n = 12]

 

Perceived relationship of weight to illness/disease

Societal view that ‘losing weight (slimming down) means serious illness’ [n = 13]

 

Perceived relationship of weight to beauty

Societal view that ‘being fat enhances beauty/sexual attractiveness’ [n = 7]

 

Perceived inheritableness of weight gain/obesity (family trait)

Heaviness (fatness) is inherited in my family; we usually have big sizes [n = 3]

 

Perceived fattening tendency of local meals

Local meals heavily starch based and fattening [n = 5]

Red palm oil and Groundnut oil are the only readily available cooking oils here [n = 11]

Rampant local Goat breeding practice makes meat easily available and cheap [n = 2]

C) Exercise

  

Category

Sub-category

Concepts

1) Local practices

Perceived needlessness of exercise

Societal view that ‘exercise is meant for the unengaged, unserious and greedy persons that rather walk to avoid travel costs’ [n = 5]

 

Perceived danger of exercise for the aged

Societal view that ‘exercise is dangerous’ for older adults and the elderly [n = 7]

2) Patient related factors

Poor knowledge of relationship between exercise and hypertension

Perception that ‘exercise is dangerous’, makes hypertension worse [n = 5]

 

Poor awareness on ‘how to exercise’

Ignorance about available and easy everyday exercise activities [n = 11]

D) Tobacco, alcohol, stimulants

Category

Sub-category

Concepts

1) Local practices

Perceived benefits of tobacco (smoking)

Alcohol used in relieving stress/tension [n = 2]

 

Perceived benefits of alcohol (local palm wine)

Palm wine makes vision clearer [n = 1]

 

Perceived benefits of snuff (Nicotine powder)

Snuff useful in relieving stress and tension [n = 1]

 

Perceived benefits of Kola nut consumption

Normal for older adults and the elderly to chew ‘Kola’ regularly; Kola nuts stimulate work [n = 2]