Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2026)

Introduction: Arterial hypertension (HTN) is a public health problem. In the provinces, general practitioners play a key role in managing this condition. Our objective was to assess their knowledge of HTN in order to contribute to an effective improvement in its management. Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 3 months in six (06) health provinces of Chad. Physicians who gave consent and were present at their post during the survey were included. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 26 statistical software.

Results: A total of 82 general practitioners were included in our study out of the 119 present at their post, representing a participation rate of 68.9%. The average age was 36.77 ± 6.08 years, ranging from 27 to 68 years. The male sex was predominantly represented at 75.6% (n = 62) with a sex ratio of 3.1. Twenty percent of general practitioners did not know the threshold values defining hypertension. The classification of hypertension according to the WHO was not known by 24% (n = 20), nor were the cardiovascular risk factors known by 20% (n = 16). More than half, 65% (n = 53), were unable to cite all the necessary systematic paraclinical tests for a hypertensive patient. Monotherapy was initiated as first-line treatment regardless of the grade of hypertension, and the most commonly used antihypertensive therapeutic classes were calcium channel blockers and thiazide diuretics, at 32.47% (n = 24) and 28.57% (n = 22), respectively.). Therapeutic combinations were not well known by 32% (n=26) of doctors. Almost all, 96.3% (n=79), wished to participate in training on arterial hypertension.

Conclusion: Our study made it possible to assess the knowledge of general practitioners in the provinces on the management of hypertension, which is not very satisfactory.