Socioeconomic and Geographical Inequities in Burden and Treatment seeking Behavior for Hypertension among Women in the Reproductive Age (15-45 years) Group in India: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic disparity changed healthcare seeking and management cascade of hypertension due to inequity in hypertension care cascade pathway. OBJECTIVES: The inequities in burden and treatment-seeking behavior of hypertension among reproductive age group women were studied from National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data from NFHS-4 of women of reproductive age group between 15 and 49 years among the selected households contributing to 699,686 women. Socioeconomic inequities were assessed by expenditure quintile. Inequities in burden and treatment-seeking behavior were reported using the concentration curve and concentration index. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in India was 15% (95% confidence interval 14.9%-15.4%). One-third (32%) of the hypertensive population received treatment and only 28% of the women had controlled blood pressure. Wealth and education-based inequalities were more in high wealth index. The inequity in screening and awareness was in the northern and northeastern regions. CONCLUSION: There was inequity in the overall hypertension care cascade pathway with more inequity in the northern and northeastern region.