Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors in Adults from a Semi Urban District in Ghana: A Population Based Survey
Joseph K. L. Opare *
School of Public Health, FELTP, University of Ghana P.O.Box LG13, Legon, Ghana and Ghana Health Service Private Mail Bag, Ministries, Accra, Ghana.
Nicole Probst-Hensch
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O.Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland.
Edwin Afari
School of Public Health, FELTP, University of Ghana P.O.Box LG13, Legon, Ghana.
Axel Hoffmann
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O.Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland.
Christian Schindler
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O.Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland.
Fred Wurapa
School of Public Health, FELTP, University of Ghana P.O.Box LG13, Legon, Ghana.
Chima Ohuabunwo
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA.
Samuel Sackey
School of Public Health, FELTP, University of Ghana P.O.Box LG13, Legon, Ghana.
David Mensah
Ghana Health Service Private Mail Bag, Ministries, Accra, Ghana.
Olivia Serwaa
Ghana Education service, P O Box 102 Mampong-Akwapim, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Given the paucity of community based surveys on hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in the Akwapim North District (AKND) of Ghana’s Eastern-Region (ER), we conducted a population survey to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated determinants.
Methods: We recruited 519 adults age ≥ 25years in a multi-stage sample of enumeration centres over a one-month period. We measured body weight, waist and hip circumference, height, blood pressure (BP) and obtained demographic and risk factor information. Univariate and bivariate-analysis determined the prevalence of hypertension, significant difference and predictors of known risk factors (p <0.05).
Results: Among the 519 participants, 62.8% were women. The mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 48.6±16.8 years and 23.2±5.2 kg/m2 respectively. Prevalence of hypertension was 32.2% with a male-to-female distribution of 27.5% and 35.0% respectively. The prevalence of alcohol use was high at 65.6% (340/519). Age and waist circumference were predictors of diastolic BP.
Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of hypertension in the AKND of Ghana. Stakeholders should structure interventions on hypertension to promote healthier-lifestyles.
Keywords: Hypertension, prevalence, community, Akwapim North District, Ghana