J. K .L Opare 1, 2 , C. Ohuabunwo 3 , E. Afari 1 , F. Wurapa 2 S. Sackey 1
1. School of Public Health, FELTP, UG, Legon
2. Ghana Health Service
3. Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
1

• Hypertension and obesity constitute increasing public health concern worldwide
• 3-fold increase in proportional morbidity of hypertension btw 2006 and 2010 in Akwapim
North District (AKND) of Ghana
• 3/1000 people died from hypertension within a 5month period among a Religious group in AKND
• Created fear and concern among congregants
2

General
To assess the prevalence of HPT and anthropodemographic risk factors among congregants of this religious group in AKND
Specific
• To determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among the religious group
• To describe the pattern of hypertension and obesity among the age groups
• To determine the association between hypertension and obesity among the group
3

Study Area:
AKND :Eastern part of
Ghana
• Population 142,068
• 450 km 2 land area
• Urban: rural % - 60:40
• 8 sub-districts
• 31 health-facilities
• 30 clusters
• 80% access to health care
AKND
4

• Recruited 267 congregants in a cross sectional study
• Measured blood pressure (BP) mmHg, body weight
(kg), height (m) and calculated BMI (kg/m²)
• Classified body weight as; normal: BMI< 25kg/m² , overweight: BMI≥ 25kg/m², obese: BMI ≥ 30kg/m²
• Defined HPT: SBP ≥140 mmHg and DBP ≥ 90 mmHg
• Determined prevalence of hypertension and obesity
• Any association using Chi square test at 95% CI
5

General characteristics of congregants, AKND, 2012
Variable Value
Mean age
Sex (female)
Mean SBP ±SD
Mean DBP±SD
Prevalence of HPT
Prevalence of obesity
50.4 ± 13.4
90.6% (242)
125± 22mm of Hg
74±14 mm of hg
25% (69/267)
29% (79/267)
6

• HPT, 94.0% (65/69) were females
• Obese 96% (76/79) were females
• Hypertension was more likely among obese congregants (OR 2.0; 95% C1: 1.07-3.75) compared with normal weights
7

30
Results 3/3 : HPT and Obesity by Age and Sex in the Religious Group Congregants
AKND,2012
25
20
15
10
5
0
20-29 30-39 40-49 obesity M
50-59 obesity F
60-69
HPT M
70-79
HPT F
80-89 90>
8

• HPT prevalence increased across age gradient from young to old adults and more common in females [Agyeman et al, 2005: Frank et al 2010]
• Almost 1:4 and 1: 3 of the congregants were hypertensive and obese respectively
• Positive association between obesity and hypertension[ Hsieh et al 2000;Olatunbosun et al 2000 ;Shahbazpour et al 2004
9

• Hypertension is common and associated with obesity in this religious population
• All hypertensive congregants
• were counseled
• given anti-hypertensive medications
• Referred to the district hospital for follow up
10

• The church of Pentecost Mampong District
• District Health Directorate
• Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital
11