A study on the prevalence and awareness of hypertension among women in the reproductive age group and the factors contributing to it in a rural area of Jorhat district, Assam

Abstract

Background: Hypertension has been identified as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing nations. Prevalence is seen to be increasing in the rural areas, especially among the females in the reproductive age group. The prevalence of hypertension is found to be high in Assam, while the awareness is quite low thus necessitating a study in this regard.Methods: A total of 400 women in the reproductive age group were selected from Bagchung block, Jorhat by Simple Random Sampling. They were interviewed and their blood pressure was measured along with some anthropometric variables. Classification of hypertension was done as per the US Seventh Joint National Committee (JNC 7) report on the prevention, evaluation and treatment of high BP.Results: A total of 23.5% prevalence of hypertension was found among the study subjects. 44.5% of the total was in the pre hypertensive stage. 77% of them had heard of hypertension while only 20% were aware of its side effects. Extra salt intake, family history and underlying medical conditions were the major risk factors.Conclusions: Knowledge, awareness on hypertension in women in this part of the district is poor and the prevalence is high and their life style practices are grossly contributing to it. Therefore, efforts should be geared towards improving the levels of awareness of the women regarding hypertension and the risk factors.

Association of hypertension with generalized obesity in rural south-western Nigeria

“…The overall prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥140/90mmHg) in the rural communities studied is 32.4%, higher than findings from studies from some rural communities in Nigeria, [21,22], 19.3% in rural northern Ghana [23], and 14.5-23.5% in rural India [24,25], but lower than the prevalence of 45.8% from a rural community in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria [26], and 44.9% from south-west Nigeria [7]. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in our study than the Ghanaian study probably because our subjects were older, had higher mean BMI and waist circumference values.…”

“…Pre-hypertension defined as SBP ≥120 but <140mmHg and/or DBP ≥80 but <90 mmHg was found in 31.8% of the participants in our study. It was reported to occur in 44.5% [25] and 45.5% [6] of Indians and Nigerians, respectively. These rates are high and worrisome because it is not a benign condition.…”

Reasons behind high rate of non-compliance to scheduled office visits in hypertensive patients: results from the Egyptian registry of specialized hypertension clinics

“…Use of herbal remedies was a common practice in hypertensive patients in Uganda, as well, but they mostly used garlic, ginger, pumpkin leaves, African eggplant (Katunkuma), aloe vera (kigaji), dried banana leaves, neem tree, chlorophyll extracts and human urine [ 18 ]. Similarly in Nigeria, patients considered herbal remedies as alternatives to antihypertensive medications [ 21 ].…”