Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hypertension is a major healthcare problem in Nigeria with a probable prevalence of 36.6%. A large population of Nigerians are engaged in market activities. This study was set out to determine the prevalence of hypertension and the factors which may influence it in a population of market workers in Awka, Southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an unstructured market workers’ population. The subjects were screened for hypertension and its potential associated factors. The results were compared between the hypertensive and the non-hypertensive groups. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 41.5%. The prevalence of unawareness of hypertension was 54.1% among those who were hypertensive. Increasing age, non-smoking, poor educational status, thickened arterial wall, marriage, diabetes mellitus, low economic status, small number of persons living in an apartment, fair complexion as well as positive family history of hypertension were significantly associated with hypertension. Thickened arterial wall and tobacco snuff use predicted hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension and unawareness of hypertension were high in this study. Obesity, cardiovascular risks, small family size, low income and low educational status were common among hypertensive subjects in the market population.
Highlights
Hypertension is a global healthcare problem in both the developed and the developing countries. [1,2,3] The world prevalence of hypertension was put at 26.4%% [2]
Addressed in the questionnaire were biodata, family history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus status, cigarette smoking, tobacco snuff use, educational status, alcohol use, marital status, eating at home, meat consumption, night-time sleep duration, keeping night vigil, prior knowledge of hypertension status, economic status, days spent on business in a week, days spent on weekend, annual leave duration, number of persons living in same apartment, number of dependants, social activities, siesta, keeping GSM phones on during night sleep, making mid-night GSM phone calls, finding time to rest in the evening, using Akanwu, complexion, length of time spent at work daily
The potential predictors of hypertension evaluated were family history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, tobacco snuff use, educational status, alcohol use, marital status, eating at home, meat consumption, night-time sleep duration, keeping night vigil, prior knowledge of hypertension status, economic status, days spent on business in a week, days spent on weekend, annual leave duration, number of persons living in same apartment, number of dependents, social activities, siesta, keeping GSM phones on during night sleep, making midnight GSM phone calls, finding time to rest in the evening, using Akanwu, complexion, length of time spent at work daily, thickened arterial wall and body mass index (BMI)
Summary
Hypertension is a global healthcare problem in both the developed and the developing countries. [1,2,3] The world prevalence of hypertension was put at 26.4%% [2]. [9] Different Nigerian studies have shown that the prevalence rates of hypertension in Nigeria range from 26.4% to 36.6%. [5,6,10] A study in Enugu, Nigeria, showed unawareness prevalence of 70.6% among those who have hypertension [10]. Some associated factors of hypertension have been identified They include age, consumption of red meat, body mass index (BMI), and the number of children in the family. This study was set out to determine the prevalence of hypertension and the factors which may influence it in a population of market workers in Awka, Southeast Nigeria. Cardiovascular risks, small family size, low income and low educational status were common among hypertensive subjects in the market population
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