PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with high blood pressure among undergraduate students in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State. The descriptive research design was adopted with a population which consisted of 8,740 undergraduate student resident in the hostels in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rivers State. A sample size of 420 was used for the study using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was collected using a proforma and analyzed using percentage and chi-square test. The result showed that few of the respondents 55(13.9%) and 24(6.0%) had hypertension 1 for systolic and diastolic respectively; but more, 264(66.5%) and 222(55.9%) had normal blood pressure both for the systolic and diastolic reading. Thus, the prevalence of high blood pressure among undergraduate students in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education was low. The prevalence of hypertension 1 was more among those who smoke (40.0%), consume alcohol (18.9%), had a history of hypertension (17.2%) and aged 15-19 years (14.4%). Significant association was found between prevalence of high blood pressure and variables such as: alcohol consumption (X²-value = 7.60, df = 3, p<0.05), smoking (X²-value = 8.21, df = 3, p<0.05), and age (X²-value = 12.71, df = 3, p<0.05). It was concluded that, the prevalence of high blood pressure among undergraduate students in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State was low and the risk factors were alcohol consumption, smoking and age. It was recommended among others that the undergraduate students should identity peculiar triggers of high blood pressure in them such as alcohol consumption and smoking, by making constant observation and guiding.