Background. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of prehypertension (pre-HT) and hypertension (HT) in schoolchildren at Brazzaville (Congo). Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2011 in five representative urban schools in Brazzaville. American Pediatric Society's definition of pre-HT and HT was used. The measurement of blood pressure was obtained using auscultator method. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to establish associations between blood pressure levels and sociobiographical factors. Results. 603 children were included. The mean age was 11.8 ± 3.6 years (range 5–18 years). The prevalence of pre-HT was 20.7% (n = 125). Factors associated with pre-HT were secondary school (P = 0.02), private schools (P < 0.004), migrants (P = 0.03), the obese (P = 0.004), high socioeconomic level (P < 0.01), and overweight (P = 0.02). In logistic regression, the independent determinants of pre-HT were secondary school (P = 0.0001), migration (P = 0.04), obesity (P = 0.004), and overweight (P = 0.01). The prevalence of HT was 10.1% (n = 61) during the first screening and 3.3% (n = 20) in second screening. The independent determinants of HT were obesity (P = 0.0001) and overweight (P = 0.0001). Conclusion. Pre-HT and HT are emerging as a mass problem in Congolese schoolchildren with urban migration and overweight/obesity to be controlled and prevented.

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The study aimed to assess obesity-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices of parents when facing child and adolescent obesity in order to improve the quality of care. A case-control study was conducted from February 1 to July 1, 2013. The study compared parents of obese school children (group 1 or cases; n = 254) and those school children without obesity (group 2 or controls; n = 254). These children were drawn from public and private primary schools of Brazzaville (Congo). Obesity-related knowledge was satisfactory in 83.5% of the cases, attitudes were correct in 29% of the cases, and the practices good in 25.6% of the cases. The parents’ obesity-related knowledge was satisfactory when the socioeconomic level of the family was high (P < .02), the mothers’ educational level greater than primary (P < .001), and the fathers’ educational level was greater than primary (P < 10−4). The same observation was obtained with obesity-related attitudes and practices of the parents when correct. This influence remained after the adaptation of fathers’ educational level. In conclusion, the disease-related knowledge of parents can be considered satisfactory in the majority of the cases; however, obesity-related attitudes and practices remain incorrect in most of the cases.