Social and Behavioral Determinants of Hypertension and its Associated Health Risk Indicators among Adults of Bonda Tribe: A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group of Odisha, India

Hypertension is a major public health concern and a leading cause of mortality and disability.The present study assessed the prevalence and key determinants of hypertension among adults of the Bonda tribe in Malkangiri district of Odisha.A total of 432 adult individuals (18 years), including 227 females and 205 males, were included in this study.The overall prevalence of hypertension was 18.5%, 22.4% of which were males and 15.0% of which were females with either stage I or stage II hypertension.Additionally, 3.7% of the studies reported isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), and 6.2% reported isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH).Age and body mass index (BMI) were found to increase with increasing blood pressure.Frequent alcohol consumption [AOR = 2.852, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.268-6.413],tobacco use (AOR = 5.08, 95% CI = 2.090-12.345),and extra salt intake (AOR = 6.449, 95% CI = 2.927-14.210)were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with hypertension.The study emphasizes the growing public health concern of hypertension among the adult population of the Bonda tribe.High alcohol and tobacco usage, extra table salt intake, and older age and increased BMI were identified as key risk indicators for increasing blood pressure in this particularly vulnerable tribal group.