title: Prevalence and correlates of hypertension among the Ibibio/Annangs, Efiks and Obolos: a cross sectional community survey in rural South-South Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to assess the public health burden of hypertension in the rural communities in southeastern Nigeria (Niger Delta region of Nigeria).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional study in three rural communities in the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria. Demographic, anthropometric information, prior history of hypertension or stroke in each participant or their parents was obtained with a questionnaire. Height, weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of respondents were measured by standard methods, and body mass index calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The N of respondents was 3869; 1608 (41.6%) males, 2261 (58.4%) females; 1120 (29.0%) Efiks, 1877 (48.5%) Ibibio/Annangs, and 872 (22.5%) Obolos. Mean SBP and DBP were significantly higher in males than in females (P < .001). Prior awareness of hypertension was 2.8%. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 914 (23.6%); 31.2% males and 18.1% females (P < .001). The prevalence of hypertension in the ethnic groups was 479 (25.5%) among Ibibio/Annangs; 287 (25.6%) among the Efiks and 130 (14.9%) among the Obolos. Prehypertension occurred in 17.2% of total population, 17.5% males and 16.9% females (P = .66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension is already a major public health burden in rural communities of these two states, despite a very low incidence of obesity and cigarette smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, A K S, Nigeria. andyumanah@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Andy
authors.forename: Etete J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Udeme E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Ekrikpo
authors.forename: Ndanyongmong A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Akpan
authors.forename: Bernard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Unadike
authors.forename: John U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Ekott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult