ABSTRACT
Background: Hypertension is a global public health problem in both developed and developing countries. It is estimated that 75% of the world hypertensive patients in 2025 will be in developing countries including Nigeria. There is need to understand the nature of the epidemic and institute control measures to reverse the increasing tide of the disease in developing countries. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey carried out among Lagos residents between May and June 2012 in four Local Government Areas namely Alimosho, Mushin, Ajegunle/Ifelodun and Kosofe. The study variables were age, sex, occupation, education, marital status, religion and BMI while the outcome variable were frequency of hypertension and mean blood pressure. Statistical analysis included the use of proportions, percentages, chi-square, ‘t’ test and logistic regression using SPSS version 21 Results: A total of 4088 adults aged between 20-81 years (male = 1465 and females= 2623) were included in this study. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 40.9%. Hypertension increased with age in both males and females. Of the 1673 respondents identified as having hypertension, only 316 (18.9%) respondents were previously aware of their diagnosis. Of the 316 known hypertensive patients, only 20 (6.3%) had their blood pressure within the normal range. Age, gender, marital status and BMI were socio-demographic factors associated with hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension and obesity were found to be high in Lagos state. The need for public health actions to avert the consequences of the high prevalence of hypertension.cannot be over-emphasized.
ABSTRACT
Setting: Public and private tuberculosis (TB) treatment facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. Objective: This study compares the treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) patients managed at the public and private treatment facilities in Lagos Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional study. Four hundred and seventy smear positive adults TB patients were consecutively recruited from 23 public and 11 private directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) facilities and followed up till completion of treatment after which their treatment outcomes were compared. Results: The prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection among patients managed at the public and private DOTS facilities was 10.0% and 10.7% respectively (P = 0.68). There was no significant difference in the treatment success and defaulter rates of TB patients managed at the public and private DOTS facilities (P > 0.05). Supervision of treatment by a treatment supporter (OR 2.98, 95%CI 1.59 – 5.56) and not interrupting treatment (OR 21.27 95% 8.86 - 51.07) were predictors of treatment success. Conclusion: Treatment outcomes of TB patients treated at the public and private DOTS facilities were comparable. There is need for strategies to effectively track patients lost to follow up.