Prevalence of Hypertension and Knowledge of Its Risk Behaviors among Residents of Rural and Urban Communities in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease among blacks anywhere and a major threat to health and wellbeing. Hypertension has been known to vary among countries and even sub-populations within a country. Geographical variations in behavioral risk factors for hypertension have also been noted. Despite the high prevalence of hypertension among residents of developing nations, the level of knowledge of its risk behaviors in most parts of these nations is low compared with that of the developed world

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of hypertension and level of knowledge of its risk behaviors among residents of rural and urban communities in Rivers State, a crude oil bearing state in the South-South region of Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used to survey 400 residents age ranged 15-84 years, 200 each from rural Elele-Alimini and urban Rumuekini areas in Rivers State. The multistage sampling technique was used to recruit residents of the communities into the study. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire, after which blood pressure was measured using the mercury sphygmomanometer. Respondents with blood pressure measurement of ≥140/≥90mmHg, or already on anti-hypertensive medication were classified as having hypertension.

Results: The mean age of respondents from rural and urban communities was 43.3±17.9 and 37.9±15.1 years respectively (p<0.001), and there were more of females than male from both sites (p=0.269). The prevalence of hypertension was 27.0% rural (n=44) and 29.0% (n=58) for urban respondents (p=0.656). Overall, knowledge of hypertension and its risk behaviors was 63.8% and 70.2% for the rural and urban respondents respectively (p=0.210).

Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high among residents of rural and urban communities in Rivers State. The level of knowledge of its risk behaviors was high. In this study knowledge of hypertension and its risk behaviors did not translate into good hypertension control. There is therefore need to mount comprehensive and robust hypertension preventive and control programme in both rural and urban communities in the state.