ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a major health problem throughout the world because of its prevalence and its association with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The study was designed to determine the prevalence of hypertension among adult traders in some selected markets in Awka, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. A total of 390 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to determine their socio-economic status, food consumption pattern. Body Mass Index status of respondents were calculated using weight and height measures. Results therefore revealed that most of the respondents ages were between 31-40 years (24.4%) and 41-50 years (27.9%).There were more married (60.5%) than single (18.5%), widowed (18.9%) and divorced (2.1%) respondents. Also, the percentage (66.1%) of the respondents who earned below 20,000 was higher than those of the respondents (33.9%) that earned above 20,000. However, most (95.2%) of the respondents spent below 2,000 per week on food.  Frequency of daily food consumption showed that that many (35.1%) respondents eats at least twice a day, while (33.6%) eats 3 square-meals each day. Half (50.8%) of the respondents are not on any special diet. Many of the respondents (21.0%) are on low salt diet, however (12.8% and 11.5%) of the respondents are on low fat diet and low carbohydrate respectively. Poor lifestyle habits was evident in this study as weekly alcohol consumption was reported to be high (44.9%) among the respondents. Majority of the respondents (68.2%) do not smoke while about (30.2%) do smoke. Many of the respondents who (22.8%) smoke, smoke cigarette. Most of the respondents (70.3%) made use of table salt while eating. Most of the respondents do check their blood pressure status regularly (37.5%) while others (49.7%) check theirs occasionally. The result also revealed the family diseases history of the respondents. From the result, it was observed that many (27.7%) of the respondent’s family had a history of Diabetes mellitus as well as hypertension (26.2%) and obesity (17.9%). Results on the nutritional status of respondents showed that more than half (56.7%) of the subjects had normal BMI status, some (56.7%) of them were overweight while few of them were at extreme values of obese (10.8%) or underweight (13.3%). Young adult traders were more overweight (≤50 years 68.0%) 50 years 32.0% obese (≤50 years 73.8%; >50 years 26.2%) than older adult traders. There is a significant relationship between body mass index category and age(X² =48.57; 0.04). The prevalence of hypertension at chronic stages (stage 2 and 3) was found to be slightly higher in male (13.6%) than in female (11.4%). Poor dietary and lifestyle practices have led to  malnutrition which predisposes an individual to risks of cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, obesity etc. however, it was also observed that genetic factors (family history) had a role to place in obese  and hypertensive cases.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

CERTIFICATION ii

DEDICATION           iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT           iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS           vii

LIST OF TABLE          vii

ABSTRACT         viii

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 statement of problems 4

1.2 Objectives 5

1.3 Significant of study 5

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Hypertension 6

2.2 Causes and consequences of hypertension 7

2.3 Signs and symptoms of hypertension 8

2.3.1 Secondary hypertension 8

2.3.2 Hypertension crisis 9

2.3.3 Pregnancy           10

2.3.4 Children           10

2.4 Prevention of hypertension           11

2.5 Management of hypertension          12

2.5.1 Lifestyle modifications           12

2.6. Treatment and control of hypertension           13

2.7 Prevalence of hypertension          15

2.8 Diagnosis of hypertension           16

2.9 Assessment for nutritional status           20

2.9.1 Anthropometric measurement           21

2.9.1.1 Weight measurement          21

2.9.1.2 Height measurement           22

2.9.1.3 Body Mass Index          22

2.9.2 Clinical assessment          23

CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Study design          24

3.2 Area of study          24

3.3 Population of the study          25

3.4 Sampling and sampling techniques           25

3.4.1 Sampling and sample size calculation          25

3.4.2 Sampling procedure          25

3.5 Preliminary activities          26

3.5.1 Preliminary visits          26

3.5.2 Informed content          26

3.6 Data collection          26

3.6.1 Questionnaire Administration          26

3.6.2 Anthropometric measurement          26

3.6.2.1 Weight determination        26

3.6.2.2 Height determination       26

3.6.2.3 Body mass index (BMI)        27

3.6.3 Blood pressure determination        28

3.7 Statistical analysis        28

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 characteristics of the respondent        29

4.2 Socio-economic/ characteristics        30

4.3 Food consumption pattern        33

4.4 Medical assessment        36

4.5 Nutritional status        38

4.6 Body mass index by sex range        39

4.7 Body mass index by age range        40

4.8 Blood pressure level        42

4.9 Blood pressure level by sex range        42

4.10 Blood pressure level by age range      43

4.11 Relationship between body mass index and blood pressure level      45 

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

5.1 Conclusion      47

5.2 Recommendation    47-48

REFERENCES              49-61

APPENDIX I    62-64

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.8 Diagnosis of hypertension 16

Table 2.8.1 Classification of blood pressure for adult 18

Table 4.1 Characteristics of the respondent 30

Table 4.2 Socio-economic characteristics 31

Table 4.3a Food consumption patterns 36

Table 4.3b Food consumption patterns 37

Table 4.4 Medical assessment 38

Table 4.5      Anthropometric measurement 39

Table 4.6 Body Mass Index by sex category 40

Table 4.7      Body mass index by age category 41

Table 4.8 Blood Pressure level category            42

Table 4.9 Blood pressure level by sex range 43

Table  4.10    Blood pressure level by age range 44

Table   4.11    Body mass index and blood pressure status 46