Community perspectives versus medical perspectives
| Explanatory model | Main perceptions of community members and leaders | Medical perspective |
| Definition | Excess of blood. | How much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats and/or when the heart is resting between beats. |
| Causes | Mainly psychological, social and economic. | Mainly behavioural and genetic. |
| Presentation | Symptomatic (headaches and dizziness). | Asymptomatic. |
| Appropriate treatment | Traditional medicine. | Adherence to antihypertensive medication and behavioural medication. |
| Anticipated outcome of treatment | Cure. | Management. |
| Risk of developing hypertension (HTN) if relative is living with HTN | No recognition of own risk of developing HTN. Dietary changes implemented only for relative with HTN. | Risk of developing HTN if a relative has HTN due to shared risk factors. |