ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine prevalence of hypertension among adolescent students and prognosis of associated dysfunction on specific organ function among adolescent students.Study Design:A cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study:Three senior high schools (SHS) in Ashanti region of Ghana, namely Anglican SHS, Konongo Odumase SHS and Bonwire SHS, between October 2016 and March 2017.Methodology:A multi-stage sampling method was used to select 909 adolescents from the three SHS. Participants were screened for elevated blood pressure. A total of 142 participants had high blood pressure and were used for this study. Anthropometries; body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), visceral fat (VF), waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure levels were measured with recommended instruments and biochemical and haematological parameters were assessed. Sociodemographic data were taken with questionnaire.Results:Out of 909 adolescent students, the prevalence of high blood pressure from first screening was 9.1%.However, upon second screening from those with high blood pressure from the first screening, prevalent rate for high blood pressure had declined to 1.21%.Hypertension was higher in males (10.7%), compared to females (4.5%, P= 0.658). There were no significant differences between BMI (P= 0.847), %BF (P= 0.501), VF (P= 0.195), WC (P= 0.450) among hypertensive, pre-hypertensive and normotensive participants. There was no significant mean difference betweenurea (P= 0.236), creatinine (P= 0.995), serum sodium (P= 0.126), serum chloride (P= 0.516), serum potassium (P= 0.878) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (P= 0.397) and blood pressure status. Total cholesterol (P= 0.765), triglycerides (P= 0.381), HDL (P= 0.777) and LDL (P= 0.768) was not significantly associated with blood pressure status.Conclusions:Participants had high blood pressure level. Despite the prevalence of high blood pressure among adolescent population, it had no impact to cause anydysfunction in kidney, cardiovascular and liver. Hence, appropriate diet and lifestyle management are needed to prevent early and/or future complication of hypertension among adolescents
ABSTRACT
Aims: Management of a complex metabolic disease like diabetes can be very challenging since it involves a careful combination of medication, exercise, diet and regular monitoring of blood glucose in order to achieve good glucose control. The study aimed at determining predictors of glycaemic control of type 2 diabeticpatients using diabetes self-management approach.Study Design: A Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of study: Diabetes clinic at two selected district hospitals in Ashanti region of Ghana.Methodology:A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic, medical history and dietary information. A validated Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire was alsoused. Serum glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was used as the standard for glycaemic control.Results:Mean glycated haemoglobin level for study participants was 7.2%±0.2. Optimal glycaemic control was significantly associated with diabetes self-management (r= -0.428), diabetes-related distress (r= 0.381) and acceptance and action on diabetes (r= 0.316). In. addition to the above associations, diabetes self-management (?= -0.297, p=0.007) and diabetes-related distress (?= 0.219, p=0.028) could significantly predict glycated haemoglobin but not acceptance and action on diabetes (?= 0.046, p=0.665). Conclusions:All the three study variables correlated with glycated haemoglobin of study participants but only diabetes self-management and diabetes-related distress had predictive value. Further, an epidemiological study is needed to ascertain the strength of the effects. Various health stakeholders should encourage diabeticpatients to understand the importance of diabetes self-management which may help in better glycaemic control, disease management and better quality of life