Penyuluhan Deteksi Dini dan Pengenalan Gejala Hipertensi

Abstract

Hypertension represents a massive global and domestic public health challenge, with an estimated 1.3 billion individuals affected worldwide. The typically asymptomatic nature of the disease at onset poses a high risk for severe cardiovascular and renal complications, including stroke, coronary heart disease, and chronic kidney disease, thereby positioning hypertension as a leading determinant of mortality from non-communicable diseases. Domestically, the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey documented a high prevalence among the adult population, ranging from 31.6% to 34.1%. Management challenges are further compounded by a lack of regular screening awareness, which drives the phenomenon of underdiagnosis, as well as a significant therapeutic gap in adequate pharmacological interventions. This community service program was conducted in Nagrak Village, which comprises a predominantly adult population, utilizing a method of educational counseling focused on early detection and clinical symptom recognition. Knowledge assessment was performed using pre- and post-test questionnaires. In the pre-test, 61.67% of the participants demonstrated a low level of knowledge. Following the educational intervention, a significant improvement in knowledge was observed; 53.33% of the participants achieved a moderate knowledge level, and no participants remained in the low-knowledge category. In conclusion, this community service activity is highly effective in improving knowledge regarding the early detection and recognition of hypertension symptoms.