ABSTRACT
Aims: To identify the prevalence of hypertensions, socio demographic characteristics, risk factor and awareness of the study population about hypertension in Khartoum Locality.Study Design: A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study.Place of Study: Khartoum locality, Sudan.Methodology:A total of 587 adult participants were interviewed using structured close ended questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured considering hypertension as ≥ 140 mmHg and ≥ 90 mmHg for systole and diastole blood pressure respectively. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and the cutoff points were derived from World Health Organization (WHO) reference criteria to classify BMI as normal, overweight and obese. Chi square test was used to assess the association of socio demographic characteristics and risk factors with hypertensive population.Results: The prevalence of hypertensive accounted to 216 (36.8%). Thirty seven hypertensive participants (17%) were not aware about having hypertension, 86 (40%) were not aware about at least one complication of HTN and 117(54%) were not aware about the normal measures of blood pressure. The hypertensive participants were significantly high in the age group 25-64 years of age and above. Females were significantly having hypertension more than males, 155 (72%) versus 61 (28%). Married participants were significantly having hypertension more than non-married, 169(78%)and 47(22%) respectively. Unemployed participants were significantly having hypertension more than employed ones, 168 (77.8%) and 48 (22.2%) respectively.Risk factors among hypertensive participants were significantly found among overweight 67 (31%) and obese 115 (53%), positive family history of hypertension 139 (65%), increase salt in food149 (69.3%) and physical inactivity 166 (77%). Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension among Khartoum locality was high. Hypertensive population awareness was low. Age, sex, marital status, education andemployment weresignificantly associated with hypertensive population. Obesity and overweight, family history of hypertension, increase salt in food and physical inactivity were risk factors among hypertensive study population.Keywords: Socio-demographic;awareness;risk factors;hypertension;Khartoum locality.1. INTRODUCTIONHypertension is positioning the first rank of causes of deaths worldwide [1]. It is a public health problem with an increasing global prevalence, especially in low and middle income countries [2,3]. Attributable factors related to the increasing prevalenceof hypertension includefast population growth and ageing, consumption of unhealthy diets, lack of physical exercise, obesity and increasing life stresses[2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, the burden of hypertension has been increasing continuously with prevalence varying widely between 15% and 70 % [4-6].Sudan witnessed rising prevalence of hypertension during the past few years [7,8]. Hypertension is the silent killer that screening and early detection could prevent or reduce its serious complications, including stroke, ischemic heart disease, congestive cardiac failure, sudden cardiac death, peripheral vascular disease and renal insufficiency [9].Most persons with hypertension are not aware of their hypertensive disease, which increase the chance of being presented for the first time to health institution by complications [10,11]. Awareness of population about hypertension is high in developed countries compared to developing nations. Awareness of population about their hypertensive status is an important determinant of adherence to anti-hypertensive medication as well as increasing the knowledge regarding the risk factors and modifying the negative lifestyle habits [11-13]. The increase prevalence of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa could be related to inadequate information about the disease that contributes to low awareness of population about their hypertensive status [14]. It was found thatawareness about hypertensive status was low among hypertensive population with low socio-demographic characteristics [15]. Few recent studies in Sudan were carried and did not emphasize the association of socio demographic characteristics to hypertensivestatus and the awareness of hypertensive adults about their hypertensiondisease.The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of hypertension, socio demographic characteristics, risk factor and awareness of the study population about hypertensionin Khartoum Locality.2.POPULATION AND METHODS2.1 Study DesignThis was a descriptive community-based cross-sectional study.2.2 Study AreaThe study was carried out in Khartoum locality which spread approximately across 176 square kilometers area and inhibited by 639,598 of the population. Khartoum locality is one of the seven localities in Khartoum State. It consists of six local administrative units and 157 blocks.