Background Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular (CVD) disease related deaths worldwide. It affects more than 20% of adults in Ethiopia, making it a major public health concern. Although it is important to uncover the hidden extent of hypertension, there is limited information on the proportion of undiagnosed hypertension in rural areas of the country. Objective This study aimed to determine the magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adults living in the rural Dano district, Central Ethiopia 2020. Methods and materials A quantitative, community-based cross-sectional study conducted from May to July 2020. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 605 study participants. A Validated tool was used to assess the participant’s behavioral characteristics. Blood pressure was measured using digital blood pressure apparatus. The mean of three blood measurements was used to classify hypertension after intra-class correlation was tested. Standardized instruments were used to assess participants’ health-seeking behavior and knowledge of the hypertensive disease. The proportion of undiagnosed hypertension was determined among patients with hypertension. The regression analyses were done to determine factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. The adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was estimated to measure the strength of the association. The level of statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. Results The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 21.32% (CI: 19.95%, 25.8%). Living in a household with the low wealth index [(AOR: 3.5,95%CI: (1.6,6.4)], far distance to health facility, [(AOR: 0.155,95%CI: (0.11.0.67)], underweight, [AOR = 2.2.1,95%CI:(2.00,4.22)], use of smokeless tobacco products, [AOR = 3.2,95%Cl:(1.88,4.75)], and participants’ knowledge of hypertension were independently associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusion This study shows that undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health problem in the study area. Living in a household with a low wealth index, being far from a health facility, being underweight, using smokeless tobacco products, and having little knowledge about hypertension increase the likelihood of having undiagnosed Hypertension. Hypertension health information, particularly to smokes tobacco users, could improve the perceived susceptibility to hypertensive disease, and reduce the hidden extent of hypertension.

Background: Hypertension affects more than one quarter of adults worldwide and one in three peoples in developing countries. Although Hypertension is known to be a silent medical condition, there is limited information on the prevalence of unscreened hypertension and associated factors among rural dwellers in Ethiopia in general and Dano district in particular. Objective: To assess the prevalence of Unscreened hypertension and associated factors among adults living in the rural area of Dano district, West Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia 2020.Methods and materials - A community-based cross-sectional study was employed. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 605 Adults from the rural community of Dano District from May 23 -July 5, 2020. Data were collected by trained BSc nurses and Public health officers. Standardized WHO STEPS survey tool was used to collect socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of the participants. Standardized digital blood pressure device was used to measure Blood pressure. The mean score of three blood measurements was used to classify hypertension after intra-class correlation was tested. GmateTM blood glucose measuring device was used to measure blood sugar. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors independently associated with unscreened hypertension. Adjusted Odds Ratio with 95% CI was estimated to measure the strength of association. The level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. The results presented by tables and figures. Result: The prevalence of Unscreened Hypertension was 14.6%, (95% CI: 11.95%, 17.4%). Being in age of 19-33 years[(AOR: 2.5,95%CI:( 1,6)], having family history of hypertension [AOR=3.1,95%CI:(1.23,7.77)],having other chronic disease [AOR=0.28,95%CI:(0.11, 0.72)], Participants’ health-seeking behaviour to hypertension[AOR=3.3,95%CI:(1.6,6.5)] and participants knowledge about hypertension[AOR=2.3,95%CI:(1.2,4.5)]were independently associated with unscreened Hypertension.Conclusion - The evidence from this study shows unscreened hypertension is prevalent among adults in the study area. Therefore, opportunistic screening of adults regardless of their age and health status is important.

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.