title: Prevalence of hypertension in Kegbara-Dere, a rural community in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension has become a major health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly due to urbanization and Western acculturation. We investigated the prevalence of hypertension and risk factors in a rural community in South-South Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressure and anthropometric indices were measured during a cross-sectional study of community health status among 1078 adults, aged > or = 18 years, in 2008. Information on lifestyle was also collected through structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unadjusted hypertension prevalence was calculated against selected risk factors, and association was demonstrated using risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Chi-square was used to test for statistical significance at P < .05. Adjusted analysis was done for age by direct standardization using a reference population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of hypertension, defined as systolic and diastolic blood pressure > or = 140 mm Hg and > or = 90 mm Hg respectively and/or current use of antihypertensive medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crude prevalence of hypertension was 18.3% (95% CI = 16.0-20.7), while the age-adjusted prevalence was 2.63% (95% Cl = 2.59-2.66). Hypertension rate increased with age (RRs > 2.0, P = .00) and was higher in those married (RR = .35, P = .00), but showed no sex difference (RR = 1.13, P = .34). Hypertension was associated with tobacco chewing/ snuffing (RR = 2.32, P = .05) and history of diabetes (RR = 3.36, P = .00); but central obesity, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and family history of hypertension or diabetes showed no valid association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found a high prevalence of hypertension in a rural community. Although, the influence of selected risk factors could not be established, screening and health promotion in rural areas should be intensified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. ac_onwuchekwa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Arthur Chukwubike
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Onwuchekwa
authors.forename: Mary Margaret
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mezie-Okoye
authors.forename: Seye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babatunde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult