PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG ADULTS IN IBADAN-SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Hypertension is a highly prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in our world today. Approximately 4.5% of the current global disease burden has been shown to be caused by hypertension. Hypertension is becoming an increasing public health problem because of increasing dietary habits, lifestyle modification practices and other contributory risk factors and thus a source of concern to the global community. This study is thus aimed at determining the prevalence of hypertension in the given community with its associated risk factors. A community based cross-sectional study was carried out among adults in Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area of Oyo State. Systematic random sampling was used to select 566 people. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and history of hypertension and its associated risk factors, knowledge and history of life-style modification practices and dietary intake of the Respondents. Blood measurements and anthropometric measurements were also taken. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 15. Chi square test and logistic regression were employed to determine risk factors affecting hypertension. The results of the study showed that the overall prevalence of hypertension was 19% with females having a higher prevalence of 21.6% compared to males with 18.8%. The mean ages of Respondents was 37.54 years with average systolic blood pressure of 126.26mmHg.There was variation in blood pressure levels for the waist circumference, Body Mass Index, Age, Gender, educational level, occupation, marital status, number of Children, Diabetic status, fruit and vegetable consumption and family history of hypertension of the Respondents at the bivariate level. Physical activity, salt intake and ethnic group did not influence blood pressure levels. After adjustment for risk factors for hypertension, Predictors of hypertension were those aged 55years and above: [OR=2.77 (95% Cl=1.08 - 7.13)], Respondents whose waist circumference was at "High risk" [OR=3.34 (95% Cl 1.55 - 7.27)] and female Respondents [OR=0.54 (95% CI 0.29 - 1.01)]. Those whose waist circumference was at "High risk" were found to be consistently associated with high blood pressure at P=0.000 level of significance. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of hypertension in Ibadan South-west LGA of Oyo State, Nigeria. Effective intervention strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of hypertension should be targeted towards public health education on "modifiable risk factors" with emphasis on "regression factors" which are the most important predictors of hypertension in the community of study.