A cross-sectional study of risk factors and hypertension among adolescent Senior High School students
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
Abstract
Hypertension is among the first five causes of mortality, globally contributing
more than 40% to cardiac related deaths worldwide, with almost 70% cardiovascular deaths in
the low- and middle-income countries. Its burden is projected to be 150 million by 2025 based on
epidemiological data within the Sub-Saharan Africa regions, with Ghana experiencing 505,180
increases in 2007. It is currently among the leading cause of death in the country, with prevalence
ranging from 19% to 48%. There is limited data concerning hypertension on Ghanaian youth.
Particularly, on those at the Senior High School (SHS) level that represents the immediate
workforce of the country on the depth of prevalence, knowledge as well as the risk factors that
may predispose them into having prehypertension and hypertension for proper records and
interventional measures and that is what this study pursues to do.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was employed in five different SHSs in
the Ashanti region of Ghana from December 2018 to February 2019 with structured questionnaires
and physical screening of participants. Logistic regression analysis was performed
to test for relation knowledge and riskfactors on HTN.
Results: The overall prevalence of pre-HTN within the group was 33.8%, with stages 1 and
2 HTN prevalence of 5.4%. Sixty-three percent do not have an idea of what HTN is, and
positive associations were found between no physical exercises, no addition of extra salt,
type of food often eaten and family history.
Conclusion: This study establishes prevalence in pre-HTN within students at the SHS level
with low knowledge and high risk factors on the disease. This indication is beneficial to
target the interventional programs on this population at this early stage by inculcating
education on HTN prevalence and its risks in the educational curricular by the government.
Description
Keywords
Hypertension, Hip circumference, BMI, Youth, Age, Metabolic syndrome
Citation
Amponsem-Boateng, C., Zhang, W., Oppong, T. B., Opolot, G., & Kumi Duodu Kyere, E. (2019). A cross-sectional study of risk factors and hypertension among adolescent Senior High School students. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity: targets and therapy, 1173-1180.