Community screening findings: elevated blood pressure, obesity and selected health conditions among attendees in Ifakara, Tanzania

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing public health challenge in Tanzania. Community-based screening may support early detection and linkage to care, yet evidence from opportunistic screening remains limited. This study assessed the proportion of screening-detected elevated blood pressure, obesity, and selected conditions among participants attending a community-based opportunistic screening in Ifakara, Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among participants at Katindiuka Dispensary. Sociodemographic and clinical data, including blood pressure, anthropometrics, random blood glucose, and urinalysis, were collected. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Version 26. Data were analyzed descriptively alongside bivariate chi-square analyses (χ²) to explore relationships across demographic and BMI categories. Percentages are presented alongside 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) where appropriate. Results A total of 89 participants were included (mean age 45.7 years, 95% CI: 42.1–49.3; 77.5% female). This small, predominantly female sample revealed that 26 (29.6%) participants had screening-detected findings of elevated blood pressure group, while 17 (20.0%) had stage 1, 24 (28.0%) had stage 2, and 10 (11.3%) had readings in the hypertensive crisis range. In addition, 28.1% (95% CI: 19.1%–38.6%) were classified as obese, with a statistically significant higher burden of obesity observed among female participants ( p = 0.023). Additional screening-detected conditions included elevated random blood glucose (6.7%), suspected urinary tract infections (17.0%), and suspected peripheral vascular disease (5.6%). Conclusion A high proportion of attendees had screening-detected elevated blood pressure readings and obesity, though estimates are limited by a small, self-selected sample size and an unbalanced sex distribution. These findings highlight the potential of community outreach for early triage and urgent referral, particularly for individuals with critically high readings. Strengthening systematic tracking and linkage-to-care protocols within primary healthcare is recommended.