Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: November | Volume: 8 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 205-210
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20211127
Prevalence and Determinants of High Blood Pressure among Adolescents: A School based Study in Rural Area of Hooghly District, West Bengal
Malay Kumar Das1, Rabindranath Sinha2, Aparajita Dasgupta3, Sudipta Das4
1Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College,
2Professor, Department of M.C.H, AIIH & PH, Kolkata.
3Ex Prof. and Head of the Dept. of P.S.M, AIIH & PH, Kolkata.
4Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata.
Corresponding Author: Malay Kumar Das
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The World Health Organization has already warned of increasing non-communicable diseases among adolescents as a major public health problem. The importance of this age group also lies in the fact that many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence.
Method: A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used in class-room setting to collect information from students regarding presence of risk factors of non-communicable diseases. The respondents were also subjected to anthropometric measurements and blood pressure examination using standard operating procedures.
Results: A total of 761 students of class VI-XII participated in the study of which 61.4% were boys and rests were girls. High blood pressure among boys and girls were 19.9% and 22.1% were respectively. In Bivariate analysis age > 15 years (median) (OR= 2.11), fast food intake (>3 times/week) (OR= 1.66), Alcohol consumption (OR= 2.22), less physical activity (OR=1.54), increased body mass index (OR=2.53), significantly associated with high blood pressure. In Multivariate analysis age (AOR= 2.25), fast food intake (AOR= 1.50), Alcohol consumption (OR= 2.23), less physical activity (AOR=1.71), increased body mass index (AOR=2.42) remains significant predictor.
Conclusion: Detecting the risk factors of high blood pressure prevalent in the population is of utmost importance to achieve a healthy population. Formulation and dissemination of need--based, culturally acceptable and age appropriate scientific messages for school students should be conducted more proactively.
Keywords: Adolescents, Blood pressure, Risk factor, Rural school.
[PDF Full Text]