title: Child and Maternal Factors That Influence Child Blood Pressure in Preschool Children: An Exploratory Study.
abstract: Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults and children and has its origins in childhood. While the prevalence of hypertension in children is estimated to be 2 to 5%, instance elevations in blood pressure readings (BPRs) in school-age children and adolescents are more common, track to adulthood, and are an independent risk factor for CVD. Less information is available about BPR in the preschool period and what child factors could influence those BPR. The primary aims of this exploratory study were to determine child blood pressure (BP) levels and determine effect sizes of the relationships between child and maternal factors that can influence child BP.
  
  
  
  A convenience sample of 15 rural and 15 urban children enrolled in Head Start programs (13 males; 14 females; all black) with ability to understand and speak English and with mothers who gave consent and could understand, read and speak English were enrolled. Mothers completed demographic information about their child including, gender, birth history and age. Height, weight, waist circumference and BP were measured in the mothers and the children. Children gave saliva specimens for cortisol and C-reactive protein.
  
  
  
  Over 37% of the children had elevated BPR with over 20% at or above the 95th percentile. Effect sizes of relationships ranged from very small to large.
  
  
  
  Elevations in BPR may be seen as early as preschool. It is important to examine factors, both child and maternal that influence BP.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: schauf@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Marti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner-Henson
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburg School of Nursing, Pittsburg, PA.
authors.forename: Na-Jin
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azuero
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburg School of Nursing, Pittsburg, PA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Feeley
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham PhD student.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College, Huntsville, AL.
authors.forename: Thuy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Nursing.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huntington-Moskos
authors.affiliation: Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.
authors.forename: Jeannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama, College of Nursing.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D012424:Rural Population; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Blood pressure; Influencing factors; Preschool