Social support, health behaviours and hypertension risk among rural populations of Uganda

Introduction: Hypertension disproportionately affects Black populations, with higher prevalence rates and greater severity compared to other ethnic groups. Rural populations are particularly vulnerable to hypertension and its effects due to increased levels of poverty, limited access to healthcare, and hindrances to individualized care and management. In these settings, social support and health behaviors play a crucial role in mitigating hypertension risk, as they can provide essential emotional, informational, and tangible assistance. Understanding the relationships between social support, health behaviors, and hypertension risk is critical for developing effective strategies to reduce hypertension disparities in rural Uganda. Methods: This was a systematic review covering 71 studies published in the past 25 years across databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. We analyzed studies focusing on Black populations, including African and African American groups, to understand how social support influences health behaviours and hypertension outcomes. Data were synthesized using a narrative approach and thematic analysis to identify patterns, recurring themes, and intervention strategies. Results: The review revealed that social support is significantly associated with improved health behaviors and reduced hypertension risk among Black populations especially in rural settings. Stronger social support networks from family, friends, community and culturally tailored interventions like conversations, group discussions, singing and drama; may enhance adoption of health behaviors for example doing exercise, consuming health diets and adhering to medication resulting in improved hypertension management. Emotional support from family and friends is critical for hypertension management, while informational support from healthcare providers is essential for health behavior adoption. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study shows that social support and positive health behaviors are powerful tools in preventing and managing hypertension. Strengthening these social systems through family, peers, and community health workers could substantially reduce hypertension risk in Uganda’s rural populations.