NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG TEACHERS IN YEWA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Nutritional Status and Prevalence of Hypertension among Teachers

Abstract

Introduction: The global incidence of hypertension has been steadily rising, raising concerns for public health. A number of factors, including inadequate nutrition, have been linked to the development of hypertension.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence of hypertension and the nutritional status of teachers in Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A sample size of 390 respondents, aged 18 to 59, who lived in the Yewa North Local Government Area were chosen using a cross-sectional and descriptive methodology. A systematic questionnaire, anthropometric measures, and blood pressure readings were used to gather data.

Results: With 42.8% of the teachers being classed as overweight and 24.4% as obese, the results demonstrated a high incidence of overweight and obesity among the teachers. Compared to female teachers, overweight was more common among male teachers. Less than half of the respondents had normal systolic blood pressure, indicating a high prevalence of abnormal blood pressure. Significant percentages of the subjects had elevated (pre-hypertension), stage I, and stage II hypertension. Compared to female teachers, men teachers were more likely to have increased and stage I hypertension.

Conclusion and Implication: These results imply that the anomalous nutritional condition of a considerable proportion of teachers in Yewa North Local Government may put them at risk of hypertension.