The burden of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in rural communities in southern Nigeria.

Alphonsus Rukevwe Isara,Patrick Otamere Okundia

doi:10.11604/pamj.2015.20.103.5619

Abstract

IntroductionThe African region of the world is experiencing a double epidemic of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus among adult residents of rural communities in southern Nigeria.MethodsA community based descriptive cross-sectional study. Adults aged 18 years and above residing in the rural communities who attended a free medical outreach programme were screened for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire.ResultsOf the 845 participants, 349 (41.3%) were aged 50-69 years, 263 (31.1%) were males, and 305 (36.1%) were farmers. Overweight and obesity were found in 184 (21.8%) and 90 (10.6%) of them respectively. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 37.6% (males 43.7%, females 35.1%, p = 0.018) while that of diabetes mellitus was 4.6% (males 1.9%, females 5.8%, p = 0.012). Predictors of hypertension were age ≥ 40 years (OR = 5.04, CI: 2.99 - 8.48), overweight/obesity (OR = 1.56, CI: 1.15 - 2.13) while females are less likely to develop hypertension (OR = 0.72, CI: 0.53 - 0.98). The significant predictor of diabetes mellitus was overweight/obesity (OR = 3.53, CI: 1.78 - 6.98).ConclusionThe rising prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus is assuming an epidemic level in rural communities in southern Nigeria. There is an urgent need for intensive health education and community surveillance programmes targeted at rural communities in order to achieve prevention and control of these non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

Highlights

The African region of the world is experiencing a double epidemic of both communicable and non-communicable diseases
The World Health Statistics 2012 report that one in three adults worldwide, has a raised blood pressure - a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease while one in 10 adults has diabetes [1]
A meta analysis of the prevalence of hypertension from population based studies in south western Nigeria from 1990 to 2009 reported a prevalence ranging from 12.4% to 34.8% with a higher prevalence in men than women and in urban areas than rural areas [4]

Summary

Introduction

The African region of the world is experiencing a double epidemic of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Hypertension is the commonest co-morbidity of diabetes and verse versa Both conditions exert a huge financial burden on individuals, families, communities and the health system of any country. Many community based studies have reported varying prevalence rates of hypertension in various parts of the country. A meta analysis of the prevalence of hypertension from population based studies in south western Nigeria from 1990 to 2009 reported a prevalence ranging from 12.4% to 34.8% with a higher prevalence in men than women and in urban areas than rural areas [4]. A similar review of studies on hypertension over the past five decades reported a prevalence ranging from 8% to 46.45%, but with similar prevalence in men and women and higher prevalence in rural than in urban setting [5]

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Conclusion