Hypertension Management in Low-Resource African Settings: Current Approaches and Key Challenges
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Abstract
Background: Hypertension remains one of the leading modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease globally and contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the availability of effective antihypertensive therapies, blood pressure control rates remain poor in many low-resource African settings due to weak healthcare systems, limited medication access, workforce shortages, and poor treatment adherence. This review examined current approaches to hypertension management in low-resource African settings and the major challenges limiting effective blood pressure control.
Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review of published literature on hypertension management in sub-Saharan Africa, with emphasis on Nigeria and other low-resource settings. Relevant articles, systematic reviews, implementation studies, policy documents, and international guidelines published between 2022 and 2026 were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases.
Results: Current management approaches include task-shifting and team-based care, simplified treatment protocols, fixed-dose combination therapies, community-based interventions, and digital health strategies. However, effective hypertension control continues to be limited by weak primary healthcare systems, inadequate workforce capacity, poor medication availability, financial barriers, low health literacy, and sociocultural factors affecting treatment adherence.
Conclusion: Improving hypertension control in low-resource African settings requires strengthening primary healthcare systems, expanding access to affordable medications, and implementing context-adapted interventions that address both healthcare system limitations and patient-related barriers.
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References
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