Title: Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight, Obesity and Hypertension among Undergraduates of a Southern Nigerian University

Authors: Ojule Inumanye Nkechi, Odoeme N. J

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i12.01

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of overweight, obesity and hypertension among undergraduates of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.

Materials and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among 304 undergraduates who were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was structured using the WHO STEPS Instrument. The data was analyzed for magnitude of correlation using Spearman’s rho (rs) and Chi-square tests using 1BM

Results: Among the 304 undergraduates, 179 (58.9%) were females while 125(41.1%) were males, this difference in proportion was statistically significant (X2 =6.066, P =0.0140).The mean age of the participants was 24±3.45. The prevalence of hypertension was 14(4.6%) and 135(44.4%) were found to have pre-hypertension. Isolated Systolic Hypertension was identified in 3.6% of the participants.

Prevalence of Overweight & Obesity was 50(16.4%) and 14(4.3%) respectively. A significant association exist between BP and gender of participants (χ2 =31.345, p<0.001), BMI and gender (χ2 =16.688, p=0.001). Also a strong positive correlation between BP and alcohol consumption (ᴦs=0.106, p=0.006) and between BP and high salt intake (ᴦs=0.188, p=0.001) were detected. Alcohol consumption and high salt intake was identified in 176(57.9%) and 94(30.9%) of the participants respectively.

Conclusions: A high prevalence of elevated Blood Pressure and overweight was observed among the participants. Alcohol intake, high salt intake and being a female gender were predictors of rising blood pressure and overweight. An interventional program is needed to control these risk factors in this young population.   

Keywords: Hypertension, Risk factors, Undergraduates, Obesity.

References

  1. The Joint Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. “The JNC 7 report”. PMD 12748199
  2. Simão, M., Hayashida, M., Santos, C. B., Cesarino, E. J, Nogueira, M. S. (2008). Hypertension among undergraduate students from Lubango, Angola. Rev Latino-am Enfermagem julho-agosto; 16(4):672-8.
  3. Awotidebe, T.O., Adedoyin, R.A., Rasaq, W.A., Adeyeye, V.O., Mbada, C.E., Akinola,O.T. and Otwombe, K.N. (2014). Knowledge, attitude and Practice of Exercise for blood pressure control: A cross-sectional survey. Journal of Exercise Science and Physiotherapy, 10(1): 1-10
  4. World Health Organization: Global Status Report on Non communicable Diseases 2010. Geneva
  5. Joffres, M., Falaschetti, E.,Gillespie, C., Robitaille, C., Loustalot, F., Poulter, N., McAlister, F. A., Johansen, H., Baclic, O., Campbell, N. (2013). Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in national surveys from England, the USA and Canada, and correlation with stroke and ischaemic heart disease mortality: a cross sectional study. BMJ Open 2013;3:e003423. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013- 003423
  6. Basha, A. S., Mathew, E., Sreedharan, J., Muttappallymyalil, J., Sharbatti, A. S., Shaikh B R (2011). Pattern of Blood Pressure Distribution among University Students in Ajman, United Arab Emirates Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 2011;1(3):86-89
  7. World Health Organization, World Health Statistics 2012. Geneva: http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2012/en/index.html(accessed Apr 2015).
  8. Vaidya, A., Aryal, U. R., Krettek, A. (2013). Cardiovascular health knowledge, attitude and practice/behavior in an urbanising community of Nepal: a population-based cross-sectional study from Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site. BMJ Open 2013; 3:e002976. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2013-002976
  9. De Moraes, A. F., Lacerda, M. B., Moreno, L. A., Horta, B. L. and Carvalho, H. B. (2014).Prevalence of High Blood Pressure in 122,053 Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression. Medicine. 93(27):
  10. Olaitan, O. L. (2001). Evidence of Elevated Blood Pressure among Secondary School Students in Ilorin. Health and fitness journal International (HFJI) 2(1):14
  11. Yasin, I. T., Nagham, A. Y., Wiam, T. K., Lama O. A. R., Ahmad B. R. and Mohammad H. S. (2012). Prevalence and risk factors of obesity and hypertension among students at a central university in the West Bank Libyan J Med 7:19222 http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ljm.v7i0.19222
  12. Mezie-Okoye, Margaret-Mary (2013). Essentials of Public health Nutrition for Africa. University of Port Harcourt Press. pp13, 121, 122
  13. Adienbo, O.M., Hart, V.O. and Oyeyemi, W.A. (2012). High Prevalence of Obesity among Indigenous Residents of a Nigerian Ethnic Group: The Kalabaris in the Niger Delta Region of South-South Nigeria. Greener Journal of Medical Sciences. 2(6): 152-1      56
  14. Levy J., Rimmerman, A., Sohler N. (2009). Factors associated with obesity and coronary heart disease in people with intellectual disabilities. Social Work in Health Care 48 (1): 76-89.
  15. World Health Organization; 2011.WHO STEPS Instrument (Core and Expanded): The WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS). http://www.who.int/chp/steps/STEPS_Instrument_v2.1.pdf
  16. World Health Organization; 2006 Global data base on BMI Classification for Adults
  17. Chow, C. K et al. (2013). Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Rural and Urban Communities in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries. JAMA310(9):959-968. doi101:101001/jama.2013.184182
  18. Avadhesh, K., Srivastava, M., Ahmad, S. and Ratan, S. (2014). Prevalence of Hypertension and Awareness of Its Predictors among Fresh Undergraduate Medical Students of Banaras Hindu University Standard Global Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 1:3: 046- 050
  19. Takele, T., Henok, A. (2014). Hypertension and associated factors among university students in Gondar, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health 2014, 14:937
  20. Oghagbon, K.E., Valentine, U. O., Eze, K. N., Kevin E. P. (2008). Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure Pattern of Students in a Nigerian University International Journal of Health Research, 2(2): 177-182 (e2210p73-78)
  21. Hujova, Z. (2013).The prevalence of obesity and hypertension among first-year students at Trnava University in Slovakia International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 5(8):361-367 DOI: 10.5897/IJMMS2013.0925
  22. Mona, S., Omaima, E., Khalid, E.,Naglaa, A. El-Sherbiny, Safaa, K.(2014). Study of Hypertension among Fayoum University Students, International Journalof Public Health Research. 2(2):15-19.
  23. Gorjão, J. C., Espiga De Macedo, M., Pego, M. (2007).Prevalence of Isolated Systolic Hypertension in the Population over 55 Years Old. Results from a National Study Rev Port Cardiol2007; 26 (1): 11-17
  24. Singh, R. (2012). Isolated Systolic Hypertension   Medicine Update22 (3.2):111-116
  25. Grebla, R. C.,Rodriguez,C. J., Borrell, L. N and Pickering, G. T (2010).Prevalence and Determinants of Isolated Systolic Hypertension among Young Adults: the 1999 – 2004         U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Journal of Hypertension 2010 28(1): 15–23.

Corresponding Author

Ojule Inumanye Nkechi

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Phone No: +2348171183099