Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Its control decreases the risk of likely complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of behvarz’ education level on blood pressure control among hypertensive patients in the rural areas of Qazvin city, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, including 300 hypertensive patients and 18 behvarz selected by multi-stage sampling, was conducted in health houses of the rural areas of Qazvin city in 2010. Usning standard methods and technics, weight, height and blood pressure were measured. Data were collected by interviews (using questionnaires) and observations and anlyzed using the SPSS software and the Chi Square test as the statistical test (level of sinnificance 0.05 ).

Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 13.2% and 8.7% in the populations under coverage of the health houses manned by community behvarz with a high school diploma and those with an education level below high school diploma, repectively. Only 14.7% of the patienes studied had their blood pressure controlled. There was no statistically significant association between the extent of patients’ blood pressure control and behvarz’ educationl level.

Coclusion: It can be concluded that education level of the behvarz has no effect on hypertensive patients' blood pressure control. In any case, it is recommended to pay more attention to the education and literacy of peripheral health workers and put emphasis on the personnel in-service training, regular monitoring and supervision, as well as health indices assessment.