Osuala Eunice O
Background and objectives: Hypertension has been globally recognized as the most prevalent Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and a potent risk factor in the development of other CVD outcomes such as coronary heart diseases, stroke, and renal insufficiency. It has been reported to be on the increase in recent years, being the most rapidly rising CVD in Sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile it is associated with preventable risk factors as salt, alcohol and obesity. The purpose of the study is to screen participants for high blood pressure and BMI, provide information on healthy lifestyles as a measure to reduce risk factors that predispose to hypertension among the populace.
Methods: This work was an intervention study that adopted quasi experimental design in which only the Experimental Group (EG) was exposed to health education package aimed at lifestyle modification. Study was guided by three objectives and four hypotheses based on objective.
Results: Percentage of participants with normal blood pressure reading in the EG increased from 37% at baseline to 47% at end-line unlike the Control Group (CG). There was significant difference between the blood pressure readings of the EG and CG, P value=0.000 but there was no significant difference between the BMI of the EG and CG, p value>0.05.
Interpretation and conclusion: This implies that health education influenced their lifestyles positively. There was no significant change in BMI as obesity was not a problem among the populace. Awareness through Health Education on healthy lifestyles especially importance of DASH diet need to be intensified in rural communities by Health workers.
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