Prevalence of Hypertension and Behavioral Risk Factors among Adults in a Rural Community of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Globally, there has been substantial rise in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the recent past and hypertension is reported as one of the most prevalent of these NCDs. Data on true prevalence of hypertension and associated factors in rural Nigerian communities are limited, hence the need for this study. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence and behavioral risk factors of hypertension among adults in Oko, Oyo state. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 266 adults selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were done using standard protocols. Chi-Squared test and binary logistic regression model were used for inferential statistics at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 76 (28.6%) and 77 (28.9%) of the respondents had at least one of the behavioral risk factors of hypertension. Hypertension occurrence was significantly associated with ‘respondents’ age (AOR = 3.42; 95% CI= 1.667 – 7.009); Overweight (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.514-6.160); obese (AOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.057-5.793) and alcohol consumption (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.076-0.562). Conclusion: This study found prevalence of hypertension and behavioral risk factors to be present in about a quarter of the participants. Public health professionals should implement cost-effective interventions to address hypertension and mitigate its risk factors in rural Nigerian communities.