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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

A population-based national estimate of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda: implications for prevention and control

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and a growing public health problem in many developed and developing countries. However, population-based data to inform policy development are scarce in Rwanda. This nationally representative study aimed to determine population-based estimates of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda.

Methods

We conducted secondary epidemiological analysis of data collected from a cross-sectional population-based study to assess the risk factors for NCDs using the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance of non-communicable diseases (STEPS). Adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval were used to establish association between hypertension, socio-demographic characteristics and health risk behaviors.

Results

Of the 7116 study participants, 62.8% were females and 38.2% were males. The mean age of study participants was 35.3 years (SD 12.5). The overall prevalence of hypertension was 15.3% (16.4% for males and 14.4% for females). Twenty two percent of hypertensive participants were previously diagnosed. A logistic regression model revealed that age (AOR: 8.02, 95% CI: 5.63–11.42, p < 0.001), living in semi-urban area (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01–1.67, p = 0.040) alcohol consumption (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05–1.44, p = 0.009) and, raised BMI (AOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.54–6.08, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with hypertension. The risk of having hypertension was 2 times higher among obese respondents (AOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.54–6.08, p-value < 0.001) compared to those with normal BMI (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.30–2.32, p-value < 0.001). Females (AOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63–0.88, p < 0.001) and students (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25–0.80, p = 0.007) were less likely to be hypertensive.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of hypertension is high in Rwanda, suggesting the need for prevention and control interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence taking into consideration the risk factors documented in this and other similar studies.
Appendix
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Footnotes
1
The Kish sampling method was developed by Leslie Kish (1910–2000); itis built into the PDAs which were used to select eligible respondents in the households when more than one household members are eligible for the interview. Once a household is selected, the interviewer creates a list (sampling frame) of all the persons in the household that are eligible for the interview process. This list includes the name of the person, their gender, their relationship to the head of the household and their age. Once the listing is done, each eligible member is assigned a unique number. Then using a randomized response table a particular member is chosen for the interview.
 
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Metadata
Title
A population-based national estimate of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda: implications for prevention and control
Publication date
01-12-2018
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4536-9

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