Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Hypertension Among Adults In Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Despite the ease of diagnosing and treating hypertension, it remains a significant cause of significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension among adults in Benue South senatorial district, Nigeria. The study was a cross sectional one using multistage sampling technique. Data on demography, risk factors for hypertension, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were obtained using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using the software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. The degree of significance of statistical difference was attributed to P <0.05. Out of the three hundred and sixty-two subjects who took part in the study, 193 (53.3%) were males and the majority were farmers (n=153, 42.3%). 167 (46.1%) of the participants consumed alcohol while only 23.2 % (84) smoked cigarettes. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure recordings for the study population were 128.2±17.75 and 80.2±11.96 mmHg respectively. The body mass index of the participants ranged from 16.02 to 41.96 Kg/m2 with a mean of 24.9±3.85 Kg/m2. The prevalence of hypertension was 33.4%. More than half of the participants with hypertension (57.9%, n=70) knew they were hypertensive and 71.4% of them were on treatment for hypertension. The logistic regression analysis showed that age above 40 years (OR 4.8, 95% CI: 4.81-16.25, p = 0.000) and the male gender (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.40-6.56, p = 0.005) were associated with higher risk of developing hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension in Benue south senatorial district is high and the awareness of the disease is poor. Increasing age and the male gender are the significant risk factors for developing hypertension.