Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension among Young and Middle-Aged Adults: Results from a Community-Based Survey in Rural Tanzania

Alfa J Muhihi; Amani Anaeli; Rose N M Mpembeni; Bruno F Sunguya; Germana Leyna; Deodatus Kakoko; Anna Tengia Kessy; Mary Mwanyika Sando; Marina Njelekela; David P Urassa

doi:10.1155/2020/9032476

Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension among Young and Middle-Aged Adults: Results from a Community-Based Survey in Rural Tanzania

Int J Hypertens. 2020 Sep 3:2020:9032476. doi: 10.1155/2020/9032476. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Alfa J Muhihi^{1

2

3}, Amani Anaeli⁴, Rose N M Mpembeni⁵, Bruno F Sunguya¹, Germana Leyna⁵, Deodatus Kakoko⁶, Anna Tengia Kessy¹, Mary Mwanyika Sando², Marina Njelekela^{7

8}, David P Urassa¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
² Africa Academy for Public Health, Plot # 802, Mwai Kibaki Road, Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
³ The Lown Scholars Program, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Department of Development Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁶ Department of Behavioral Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁷ Department of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Upanga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁸ Deloitte Consulting Limited, Aris House, Plot # 152, Haile Selassie Road, Oysterbay, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension, which is the single most important risk factor for CVDs, is increasing at an alarming rate in most developing countries. This study estimated the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among young and middle-aged adults in rural Morogoro, Tanzania. Furthermore, it explored factors associated with both prevalence and awareness of hypertension.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted as part of the cluster randomized controlled study of community health workers (CHWs) interventions for reduction of blood pressure in a randomly selected sample of young and middle-aged population in rural Morogoro. Sociodemographics, lifestyle-related factors, history of diagnosis, and treatment for hypertension were collected using a questionnaire adopted from the STEPS survey tool. Blood pressure, height, and weight were measured at home following standard procedures. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess determinants of hypertension and awareness.

Result: The prevalence of hypertension was 29.3% (95% CI: 27.7-31.0). Among individuals with hypertension, only 34.3% were aware of their hypertension status. Only around one-third (35.4%) of those who were aware of their hypertension status were currently on antihypertensive medication. Hypertension control was attained in only 29.9% among those on medications. Older age (p < 0.001), use of raw table salt (p < 0.001), and being overweight/obese (p < 0.001) were associated with hypertension. Predictors of awareness of hypertension status were older age, being a female, higher socioeconomic status, use of raw table salt, a history of diabetes, and overweight/obesity (all p < 0.001). Alcohol drinking was associated with low awareness for hypertension status (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of hypertension with low rates of awareness, treatment, and control among young and middle-aged adults in rural Tanzania. Community-level health promotion and screening campaigns for hypertension and other CVD risk factors should be intensified.