Prevalence of Hypertension among Adult Residents of Selected Communities in Tano North District in Ahafo Region, Ghana

摘要

Hypertension is one of the major diseases in recent years contributing significantly to the mortality rate in Ahafo Region and Ghana at large. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of Hypertension in the Tano North District of the Ahafo Region in Ghana. A community based cross sectional study was used to collect quantitative data from 242 adult residents of Tano North District. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed. Data was collected through structured questionnaire and a compilation form for the anthropometric measurement. Data was entered using Microsoft Excel version 2016 for validation before imported into STATA software version 14.0 for statistical analysis. Multivariate regression and chi-square analysis were also performed using confidence level of 95% and 5% margin error. Prevalence of hypertension was found to be 90 (37%) respondents. Commonly used oil (palm oil) was found to be significantly associated with hypertension (X2=9.2382, P=0.002). Hypertension was mostly prevalent among the aged (50 years and above). Age was therefore found to have a significant association with hypertension (X2 =12.63, P=0.013). Smoking was associated with hypertension (X2=8.431, P=0.0473). A group of variables like BMI, stress days, fruit days, vegetable days and glucose level of respondents (independent variables) were found to reliably predict hypertension since the overall Prob > F = 0.0151 was smaller than 0.05. The authors recommend to the district health facilities to embark on monthly outreach screening to help determine hypertension among unknown hypertensive residents in Tano North District.