Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors among primary school teachers in Kinondoni municipality, Dar es salaam.

Abstract

Hypertension is a chronic health problem and if left untreated is a major risk factor for heart attacks, heart failure, renal failure, strokes and even death. In both economically developed and developing countries, hypertension affects 25% to 35% of the adult population. The global prevalence rises with age, and was approximately 30 % according to the recent community studies. In Tanzania the overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 41.1 % in 1998, for men and 38.7% for women in a survey carried out in Dar es Salaam (urban), in Temeke, over 80% of the hypertension subjects were not aware that they had high blood pressure. In Kinondoni Municipality hypertension was among the top ten diseases in the outpatient department. The objective of the study was to determine prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors among primary school teachers in Kinondoni Municipality, with reference to age, weight, physical activity, diet pattern, salt intake, alcohol use, and smoking habits and their associations with hypertension. A cross-sectional study among 1119(females: 936, and males: 183) teachers aged 21 and 60years was done. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. The prevalence of hypertension among study participants was found in (30.8%). Age, body mass index, gardening, farming, animal keeping, weight lifting and running were statically significantly associated with hypertension. However age and body mass index remained statically significantly associated with hypertension in the final model. Interventions addressing reduction of overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, consumption of diets high in saturated fats, and high salt intake, should be implemented among teacher populations to reduce prevalence of hypertension among them. But this also applies to the society as a whole.