PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN SABON GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIAP REVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN SABON GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ypertension is by far the most common cardiovascular disease and one of the chronic non-communicable diseases that has been recognized as an emerging public health problem. A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional prevalence study of one thousand two hundred and forty-two (1242) seemingly healthy primary school children aged 6-12 years in Sabon Gari Local Government area, Kaduna state was carried out, comprising 573 (46.1%) boys and 669 (53.9%) girls. Variables measured included blood pressure, weight, height and body mass index. Overall, the mean anthropometric values and blood pressure increased with age irrespective of sex. The mean weight for boys and girls was 22.4±5.2 kg and 24.5±6.0 kg respectively. Girls were heavier than boys. The mean height of the study population for boys and girls was 123.9±11.5 cm and 128.4±13.9 cm respectively. The mean body mass index for boys and girls was 14.4±1.1 Kg/m² and 14.5±1.9 Kg/m². Girls were significantly heavier than the boys at ages 11 and 12 years and taller at ages 9 to 12 years. The overall point prevalence of hypertension was 2.3% (29 0f 1242) with sex specific prevalence for males being 1.9% (11 of 573 boys) and 2.7% (18 of 669 girls) for females. In view of 2.3% prevalence of hypertension in this study of apparently healthy children, it is recommended that blood pressure measurement should be included as part of medical evaluation at school entry and at least annually thereafter; especially for those found to be at risk of hypertension during school entry.