Study tool

A uniform study tool was used among the three groups interviewed in this study. Data was collected using self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires and through personal interview for respondents that are not literate. The questionnaires were designed in English language for ease of administration for literate respondents or interpreted to the respondent’s indigenous language and completed with the aid of the interviewer for those who were not able to complete it by themselves. The knowledge, awareness and lifestyle related factors for hypertension and diabetes questions were adapted from WHO STEPS survey tool [24].

The questionnaire was divided into four broad sections which included: A) Background Characteristics of respondent, B) Awareness, Lifestyle-related & screening practices for Hypertension & Diabetes C) Awareness of risk factors, complication and prevention measures for hypertension and diabetes and D) Medication Adherence among Hypertension and Diabetes patients. Section B included questions on smoking practices, alcohol consumption, exercising, fruits & added salt consumption and screening for blood pressure and blood glucose. In section C, the respondents were asked to identify the risk factors, possible complications, and the measures for preventing raised blood glucose and pressure levels while for section D, the respondents who have been previously diagnosed for hypertension and diabetes were asked about their medication adherence for their prescribed anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic medications.