Prevalence of hypertension and determinants of treatment-seeking behavior among the adult population of Nagaon district, Assam

Background: Hypertension is a serious health condition that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Around the world, hypertension is a major cause of premature death. The prevalence of non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension, is continuously increasing among adult Indians. There is an urgent need to raise awareness and conduct screening among the population to prevent any damage caused by this disease. Aim and Objectives: The present study attempted to look at the prevalence and awareness of hypertension among the tea tribe community of Nagaon district of Assam. Material and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 adult population living in three villages of Kaliabor subdivision of Nagaon district, Assam. Results: The prevalence of hypertension in the study area was found to be 25.52%. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be higher in men than in women. The burden of hypertension was found to be common in the elderly age group. High blood pressure was more common in people who consumed alcohol, had excessive salt in meal, and smoked bidis or cigarettes, and all of these risk factors were statistically associated with high blood pressure. There was also a lack of community awareness on the issue as most of the people found to have high blood pressure were not previously aware of their condition. Conclusion: The high prevalence of hypertension shows serious health threats in the study population. Therefore, it is recommended that more initiatives should be taken by the health department like organizing health awareness camps, screening programs to detect hypertension and community participation and involvement is also needed for hypertension intervention.