Prevalence and factors that are associated with elevated blood pressure among primary school children in Mwanza Region, Tanzania
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Date
2020
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The Pan African Medical Journal
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) among children
is reported to be increasing due to sedentary
lifestyles. In developed countries the prevalence of
paediatric HTN is recorded to be up to 21% while
the magnitude of the same is up to 11% in
Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the blood
pressure profile and factors associated with
elevated blood pressure (BP) among children of
Mwanza region.
Methods: a cross sectional study
involving 742 children aged 6 to 16 years in
selected primary schools in Mwanza region was
conducted from June to August 2019. Data were
collected using self-administered structured
questionnaires where parents helped children to
fill in. Blood pressure, body weight and height
were measured using digital portable
sphygmomanometer, self-calibrating digital
weighing scale and Shorr measuring board
respectively. Data were analyzed using EpiInfo.
Results: This study found mean systolic blood
pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)
were 109.2 ± 8.1 mmHg and 62.3 ± 7.2 mmHg
respectively. Prevalence of elevated BP was 18.1%.
Pre-hypertension 9.6%, and hypertension 8.5%.
The age specific elevated BP prevalence was
significantly higher (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2 - 2.9,
p = 0.008) among children aged ≥10 years (21.4%)
than younger ones (15.1%). Prevalence was also
higher (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1 - 2.3, p = 0.048)
among girls (20.1%) than boys (16.0%). Elevated
BP was found to be associated with obesity (OR =
3.5, 95% CI: 1.6 - 7.7, p = <0.001), overweight
(OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.3, p = 0.037), eating fried
food (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1 - 4.4, p = 0.023),
drinking sugar soft drinks (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 -
3.5, p = 0.002) and not eating fruits (OR = 13.4,
1.6, 95% CI: 2.1 - 65.8, p-value 0.006).
Conclusion: Findings indicate high prevalence of elevated BP
among children of Mwanza region. There was an
association between elevated BP and increased
age, gender, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
Importance of measuring paediatric blood pressure
and health information regarding effects of
sedentary life is recommended to Tanzanians.
Parents should encourage their children to have
active physical activities. Moreover, health workers
should implement programmes to modify
sedentary lifestyle and prevent children from
elevated blood pressure.
Description
Keywords
Elevated blood pressure, Overweight, Obesity
Citation
Sungwa, E.E., Kibona, S.E., Dika, H.I., Laisser, R.M., Gemuhay, H.M., Kabalimu, T.K. and Kidenya, B.R., 2020. Prevalence and factors that are associated with elevated blood pressure among primary school children in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. The Pan African Medical Journal, 37.