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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a vulnerable phase where risky behaviours like smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity set the stage for health problems like hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) and associated factors among apparently healthy in-school adolescents in Delta State, Nigeria.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among apparently healthy in-school adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, using a multi-stage random sampling technique. HBP was defined using the 2016 European Society of Hypertension Guidelines. Factors associated with HBP were determined using binary logistic regression. A p-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant.

RESULTS: Of the 574 participants surveyed, 331 (57.7%) were females and 243 (42.3%) were males, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.36. The mean age of the study participants was 14.7 years. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the study participants were 118.81 (±12.703) and 70.16 (±9.972) mmHg respectively. Prehypertension and hypertension were present in 14.8% and 18.3% of the study population, respectively. Age 10 - 13 years (AOR = 7.70; 95% CI: 2.26 – 26.22; p = 0.001) and 14 - 16 years (AOR = 4.62; 95% CI: 1.40 – 15.25; p = 0.001), upper socioeconomic status (AOR=1.19; 95% CI: 0.57 – 2.48; p = 0.020), and obesity (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.08 – 4.25; p = 0.039) were factors associated with HBP.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension among the study participants was significant. Factors associated with HBP include younger age (specifically 10 - 16 years old), higher socioeconomic status, and obesity.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article has been accepted for publication in the West African Journal of Medicine.
Publisher Keywords:	Adolescents, High blood pressure, Obesity
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Healthcare Services Research & Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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