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Category: Volume 07 Issue 03 March 2019
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Title: Lifestyle and blood pressure characteristics of individuals in a semi urban community of the North-East, Nigeria

Authors: Biyaya Beatrice Nwankwo and Rabi Susan Adelaiye

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i3.207

Abstract

Introduction: Lifestyle risk factors of high blood pressure and other non- communicable diseases include; diet, physical inactivity, smoking, high alcohol intake, Since in the early 1970s, several community based health intervention projects have purposed at promoting risk reducing lifestyle changes in various populations, because if the population as a whole were to be targeted, even a modest risk factor and heart-healthy lifestyle change would potentially have a huge public health effect. This study was conducted in other to fill up a gap in our knowledge on lifestyle and diet and how they affect blood pressure in adults of predominantly Kanuri ethnic group of Konduga community.

Methodology: This was a cross sectional descriptive study in which residents of Konduga community were sampled for the study with the aim of at finding lifestyle, diet and their effect on blood pressure. Amultistage/cluster sampling methods was used to sample the study participants. All of the consenting adults aged 18 years and above who presented at the designated sites of the examinations constituted the study population. The Participants were assisted by trained field officers to fill the questionnaire that had questions on their demographic characteristics and lifestyle practices such as cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Data generated were analysed using SPSS version 16 software and tests of significance at p < 0.05 were done.

Results: Three hundred and thirty-two adults who were made up of males (179 (53.9%) and females (153 (46.1%) participated in the study.  The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 74 years with a mean age of 33.9 + 12.7 years. The study group had a mean body weight of 68.5 + 15.1kg, mean height of 1.65 + 13.1meter. Cigarette smoking and the use of alcohol among the study participants were infrequent at the rates of about 6% and 1.5% respectively. About ninety eight percent of the respondents ingested at least a serving of fruits and vegetable per week while conscious efforts at dietary salt restriction was uncommon as 24 (7.7%) of the study participants indicated. Hypertension was detected in 74 (22.2%) individuals with males having a higher percentage.  The study group had a mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 127 + 20.1 mmHg and 83.1+ 12.8 mmHg respectively.  Regular ingestion of kola nuts were found to be associated with hypertension, physical activity, use of alcohol and cigarette smoking were not found to be associated with hypertension.

Conclusion: Self reported physical activity and the ingestion of diets with good servings of fruits and vegetables were frequently reported while cigarette smoking and use of alcohol were rare among the study participants. Risk factors for hypertension in this study include kola nut ingestion.

Recommendations: Dietary salt restriction in the general population should be encouraged.  Health education efforts that emphasise the reduction of the risk factors of hypertension such as kola nut ingestion reported in this study should be implemented.

Keywords: Lifestyle, Blood Pressure, Characteristics, Community, North-East Nigeria

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Corresponding Author

Biyaya Beatrice Nwankwo

Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja

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