An Epidemiological Study on Determinants of Hypertension among Female Residents of Urban Slum of Rajkot City, Gujarat

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension ranges from 20% to 40% in urban adults and ranges from 12% to 17% in rural adults in India. In informal settlements like slums, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are at particular risk of going undetected by formal health registries until presentation in a late stage of disease or death. NCDs among women have major health challenges. Objectives: To assess prevalence, determine factors responsible for Hypertension and study the treatment and control status of confirmed cases. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted among 405 slum women of age 35 years or more in Rajkot city. Interview, anthropometric measurements and Blood Pressure were measured for all participants. Results: Total 191(47.16%) women were diagnosed with hypertension. There was a statistically significant association between age groups, occupation, Body Mass Index (BMI), remaining busy in household work, walking, practicing healthy habits and hypertension. Out of all study participants, 75(39.26%) were aware of their hypertensive status. Out of those aware, 57(76.00%) were treated and out of those treated only 20(35.08%) were adequately treated. Conclusion: Studied population had poor awareness, poor treatment status and inadequate control of hypertension

Keywords

• control status
• hypertension
• slum