title: Effects of parity on blood pressure among West African Dogon women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effect of parity on blood pressure (BP) readings and BMI among rural West African Dogon women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlational research design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sangha, West Africa
  
  
  METHODS
  133 West African Dogon Women
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic survey including age, number of children, history of hypertension, and village affiliation. BP readings were taken in accordance with JNC-7 guidelines. BMI was calculated from height and weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with BP readings diagnostic of hypertension were typically older (M = 55.72 years) than those who were normotensive (M = 42.40). However, BMI, on average, was within normal range for both groups (22.81 and 22.15, respectively). A statistically significant difference was found between number of children and systolic BP (SBP), P = .015, with those having 5 or more children with higher SBP than those with one to three children. A statistically significant difference, P = .001, was found between hypertension and normotensive diagnostic groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that increased parity of five or more children may contribute to West African Dogon women's risk factors for hypertension in terms of increased SBP. Because BMI was within normal range for both groups of women, it was not shown to be an independent risk factor for hypertension in this sample. Further studies, with larger samples followed throughout their childbearing years (before, during, and after each pregnancy), are needed before more definitive conclusions can be made regarding the effects of parity on BMI and BP among rural West African Dogon women.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536, USA. Jacquelyn.taylor@yale.edu
authors.forename: Jacquelyn Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Andre D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult