TY  - BOOK
AU  -   Zahoro, Sabra. M 
AU  -  Kalluvya, Samuel 
TI  -   Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and its related risk factors among patients attending Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania
PY  - 0000/// ©30.032021///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania :  
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] : , Phone: +255 28 298 3384  ,          Fax: +255 28 298 3386  ,        Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz , Website: www.bugando.ac.tz  
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract: 

Background: The burden of hypertension has been increasing continuously in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past few decades. This has potentially severe consequences in the region as a large proportion of those with hypertension probably remain undiagnosed, untreated or inadequately treated, hence are at risk for morbidity and mortality from potentially preventable complications of hypertension such as stroke and heart disease. The high proportion of undiagnosed hypertensive cases in developing countries is contributed by insufficient health resources and having no routine of seeking medical care regularly. The risk of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa in increasing as people are changing from rural, manual work to urban lifestyle. Determination of the magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors, will help to inform on health education and interventions to detect hypertension early and treat it. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated risks factors among patients attending Sekeotoure Referral Regional Hospital. 

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among patient attending Sekeotoure Regional Referral Hospital in Mwanza. Information on socio-demographic and risk factors for hypertension were collected using self-administered questionnaire.  Measurements of blood pressure were taken. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi square test was used to analyze the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Ethical Clearance was obtained from joint CUHAS/BMC institution review board. Permission to conduct research was requested from Sekeotoure Regional Referral Hospital. 

Results: Among 150 participants, the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 29.3%. There was significant association between age (p-value 0.000), level of education (p-value 0.014), tobacco use (p-value 0.000), alcohol use (p-value 0.040), regular check-ups (p-value 0.002), attend health facility only when sick (p-value 0.010) and undiagnosed hypertension. 

Conclusion: A significant number of undiagnosed cases were identified. Age, female sex, alcohol consumption, use of table salt and not regularly seeking medical care were among the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. This indicates the need to check blood pressure for every patients attending in the health facility and programs of improving awareness about hypertension.

ER  -