Prevalence of Hypertensive Disorders, Associated Risk Factors and Effect of Specific Organ Function among Adolescents in Some Selected Senior High Schools in Ashanti Region of Ghana
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Date
June 2017
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Abstract
Hypertension in adolescents has become an emerging health problem across the globe. The main objective of the study was to examine the prevalence of hypertension among 14-19 year-old adolescents, associated risk factors and effect on specific organ function. A multi stage sampling method was used to select 909 adolescents from three senior high schools (in three districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana). A follow -up study was conducted on 142 who had raised blood pressure levels. Anthropometrics and blood pressure levels were measured with recommended instruments. Physical activity and dietary intake were assessed, through questionnaires. Blood samples of participants were also taken to assess their biochemical data. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 20. Pearson correlations were used to find out the associations between variables in the population. The study revealed a prevalence rate of 9.1% hypertension and 24.8% pre-hypertension. This prevalence of hypertension was significant when compared between selected schools. Males recorded a higher prevalence than females, 10.6% were hypertensive with 46.6% and 42.6% as pre-hypertensives and normotensives respectively. The data showed 81.6% of mothers of participants to be self-employed. The results also revealed a very low activity profile, 72.73% of participants with high blood pressure are not active whereas 40.32% and 59.97% of nomotensives and pre-hypertensive were also not active. This majority of the adolescent population were not physically active and this might have caused the prevalence of hypertension. Hematological indices were assessed to find out if there is any presence of anaemia or inflammation of the study subjects. The results showed that MCV had weak inverse association with systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r=-.230, r=-.183), MCHC had a weak direct relationship with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r= .171, r=.256). RDW-SD had weak inverse association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. P-LCR had a weak inverse association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r=-.185, r=-.167). Despite the prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension among adolescent population in the study, it had not caused any dysfunction in kidney, cardiovascular and liver. Hence, appropriate diet and lifestyle management are needed to prevent early and/or future complication of hypertension among adolescents.
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A Thesis submitted to the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Award of Degree of Master of Philosophy in Human Nutrition and Dietetics