Predictors of Illness Acceptance Among Hypertensive Patients in Freetown: A Multivariate Analysis of Sociodemographic, Religiosity, and Quality of Life Factors
Ahmed Vandy, Emmanuel Mandella Kanu, Michael Lahai, Foday Marah, Bondu Sebba, Augustus OsborneObjectives
To determine the sociodemographic, religiosity, and quality of life (QoL) predictors of illness acceptance among hypertensive patients.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 317 patients attending Connaught Hospital outpatient clinics in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Data were collected using the Brief Religious Coping Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, and SF-36 QoL instrument. Multiple linear regression identified predictors of illness acceptance.
Results
Overall, 60.6% of participants reported high illness acceptance. Positive religious coping was common (mean 18.47, SD ±3.37), while negative coping was less frequent, though half attributed illness to the devil. QoL scores were highest for physical functioning (mean 75.28, SD ±22.36) and lowest for social functioning (mean 37.22, SD ±20.22). Regression analysis explained 64.3% of the variance in illness acceptance. Negative religious coping (β = -0.309, p < 0.001), older age (β = -5.287, p < 0.001), female gender (β = -1.070, p = 0.027), and higher education predicted lower acceptance, while higher QoL was a significant positive predictor (β = 0.019, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Illness acceptance was moderate, shaped by QoL, religious coping, and sociodemographic inequities. Integrating psychosocial assessment, spiritual sensitivity, and health literacy into hypertension care may strengthen resilience and improve outcomes.