Objectives: To determine the level of awareness of hypertension and its risk factors in
Gwange community of Maiduguri North-eastern Nigeria.
Method: A community based cross sectional study in Gwange community of Maiduguri,
a major city in North-eastern Nigeria. Participants were selected through a stratified
randomize sample method. Demographic data including age, gender, marital status,
highest educational qualification and occupation were recorded. Information on
awareness of hypertension and level of awareness of risk factors for hypertension were
also obtained. Blood pressure was taken once on the left arm using a standard mercury
sphygmomanometer.
Results: In all, 485(175 females) were included. The study showed a statistically
significant higher level of awareness among young individuals with declining trend with
aged (p=0.01). The study also recorded a statistically significant difference in the level of
awareness of hypertension among individuals with different educational levels attained,
with secondary and tertiary levels of education having higher awareness (p=0.00) and
also a statistically significant difference in the awareness of hypertension among different
occupational groups, with higher awareness among artisans and professionals. (p=0.00).
The study found 13 (6.5%) hypertensives among 199 individuals who are not aware of the
risk factors for hypertension, 38 (21.6%) hypertensives among 176 individuals who are
aware of one risk factor for hypertension, 12 (23.5%) hypertensives among 51 individuals
who are aware of two risk factors for hypertension, and 11 (26.8%) hypertensives among
41 individuals who are aware of three or more risk factors for hypertension.
Conclusion: Awareness of hypertension among hypertensives is higher than in
normotensives with statistically significant higher awareness of its risk factors.
Awareness is also found to be higher among people of young age group, secondary and
tertiary levels of education and also among artisans and professional. Special attention
should be given to those leaving in remote villages and those least aware or treated in
view of the consequences of hypertension on multiple organs and regular blood pressure
check should be recommended to all individuals at risk.