Factors associated with hypertension and diabetes in rural communities in the Asante Akim North Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Background Hypertension and diabetes are leading non-communicable diseases that have driven an epidemic of cardiovascular diseases globally. Understanding the factors associated with the occurrence of hypertension and diabetes, particularly in rural settings, is crucial for designing interventions to improve awareness, detection, and control. This study assessed factors associated with hypertension and diabetes in Asante Akim North Municipality, a rural community in Ghana. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 2,576 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic, blood pressure measurements, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and modifiable risk factors for hypertension and diabetes. Descriptive statistics of the outcomes were performed. The factors associated with hypertension or diabetes were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results The study found that participants' mean age was 35 years (SD) with a slight female preponderance of 53.88%. Age, marital status, educational status, and occupation positively predicted the occurrence of hypertension. The prevalences of hypertension and diabetes were found to be 30.9% and 17.7%, respectively. Community members above 18 years of age had increased odds of developing hypertension [18–44 years (aOR=1.99, CI=1.06–3.71, p <0.05), 45–64 years (aOR=6.12, CI=3.15–11.9, p <0.001), and >64 years (aOR=14.55, CI=7.17–29.53, p <0.001)]. Community members who were fishing/farming (aOR=0.45, CI=0.26–0.76, p <0.01) and being student/apprentices (aOR=0.11, CI=0.02–0.56) were at reduced odds of developing diabetes. Participants who consumed snacks (aOR=0.64, CI=0.41–0.99, p <0.05) during working hours had reduced odds of developing diabetes. Conclusions The study concluded that commonly known risk factors (dietary behaviour, alcohol intake, tobacco use, and physical activities) were not associated with hypertension or diabetes. Sociodemographic characteristics and poor health screening practices were the main predictors of hypertension and diabetes in rural areas. Urgent steps to improve health education and population-level screening are pivotal for controlling hypertension and diabetes.