Prevalence of Hypertension Among Adults in Rural Setting in Nigeria: The Need for Paradigm Shift in Prevention and Control

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a chronic non-communicable medical condition that often leads to complication such as coronary heart disease, renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, retinal hemorrhage and visual impairment, amongst others. It is usually perceived to be more associated with urban/city lifestyle than rural living, but sociodemographic and socio-economic drivers of hypertension in the population are in recent instance generally impactful even in rural setting which can influence changing pattern of the disease. Aim of Study:The study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and level of awareness on risk of hypertension among adults with gender differential in Kpansia, Bayelsa State as a typical rural community in Nigeria. Materials and Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to study 230 adults aged between 18-59 years in Kpansia community who were selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Blood pressure was measured using sphygmomanometer and stethoscope held at the left arm of the subjects, using systolic and diastolic blood pressure threshold of ≥140mmHg and ≥90mmHg respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 and descriptive method used in presenting characteristics of respondents. Results:The overall systolic and diastolic hypertension among study population were 18.7% and 25.7% respectively. While systolic hypertension among males and females were 21.7% and 16.1% respectively, indicating 5.6% males' disadvantage predisposition to systolic hypertension whereas diastolic hypertension among males and females in the study population were 32.1% and 20.2% respectively, indicating 11.9% males' disadvantage predisposition to diastolic hypertension. Furthermore, both the systolic and diastolic prevalence of hypertension were significantly higher [t-test P-Value (Sig 2-tailed) = 0.000] in males than females of the study population. There was also significant difference on level of awareness on risk of hypertension between males and females of the study population based on place of information, knowledge and symptoms of hypertension with p-value x 2 = 0.000 in all instances. Recommendation/Conclusion:Paradigm shift towards rural community's focused prevention and control enlightenment campaigns on the risk factors of hypertension are necessary to tackle the burden of hypertension in our setting with gender differential in focus.

Prevalence of hypertension in a rural community in southeastern Nigeria; an opportunity for early intervention

“…Adebayo et al 38 reported a prevalence rate of 26.4%. Other studies in the countries have reported rates 13.8%-44.5% 15,[40][41][42][43][44][45] .…”