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Hypertension and Obesity among a Religious Group in the Akwapim North District of Ghana, 2012. J. K .L Opare 1, 2 , C. Ohuabunwo 3 , E. Afari 1 , F. Wurapa 2 S. Sackey 1 1. School of Public Health, FELTP, UG, Legon 2. Ghana Health Service 3. Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
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Hypertension and Obesity among a Religious Group in the Akwapim North District of Ghana, 2012 J. K .L Opare1, 2, C. Ohuabunwo3, E. Afari 1, F. Wurapa2 S. Sackey1 1. School of Public Health, FELTP, UG, Legon 2. Ghana Health Service 3. Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Introduction • Hypertension and obesity constitute increasing public health concern worldwide • 3-fold increase in proportional morbidity of hypertension btw 2006 and 2010 in Akwapim North District (AKND) of Ghana • 3/1000 people died from hypertension within a 5- month period among a Religious group in AKND • Created fear and concern among congregants
Objectives General To assess the prevalence of HPT and anthropo-demographic risk factors among congregants of this religious group in AKND Specific • To determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among the religious group • To describe the pattern of hypertension and obesity among the age groups • To determine the association between hypertension and obesity among the group
Methods 1/2 Study Area: AKND :Eastern part of Ghana Population 142,068 450 km2 land area Urban: rural % - 60:40 8 sub-districts 31 health-facilities 30 clusters 80% access to health care AKND
Methods 2/2 • Recruited 267 congregants in a cross sectional study • Measured blood pressure (BP) mmHg, body weight (kg), height (m) and calculated BMI (kg/m²) • Classified body weight as; normal: BMI< 25kg/m² , overweight: BMI≥ 25kg/m², obese: BMI ≥ 30kg/m² • Defined HPT: SBP ≥140 mmHg and DBP ≥ 90 mmHg • Determined prevalence of hypertension and obesity • Any association using Chi square test at 95% CI
Results 1/3General characteristics of congregants, AKND, 2012
Results 2/3 • HPT, 94.0% (65/69) were females • Obese 96% (76/79) were females • Hypertension was more likely among obese congregants (OR 2.0; 95% C1: 1.07-3.75) compared with normal weights
Discussion • HPT prevalence increased across age gradient from young to old adults and more common in females[Agyeman et al, 2005: Frank et al 2010] • Almost 1:4 and 1: 3 of the congregants were hypertensive and obese respectively • Positive association between obesity and hypertension[Hsieh et al 2000;Olatunbosun et al 2000 ;Shahbazpour et al 2004
Conclusion • Hypertension is common and associated with obesity in this religious population • All hypertensive congregants • were counseled • given anti-hypertensive medications • Referred to the district hospital for follow up
Acknowledgements • The church of Pentecost Mampong District • District Health Directorate • Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital