A REPORT ABOUT DATA ANALYSIS OF A STUDY WE CARRIED OUT ON

AWARENESS, PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION AMONG

MARKET TRADERS IN MBARARA CITY, SOUTH WESTERN UGANDA.

ZIRIMENYA JOEL

NJAKA SADIC

NABIRYE AFUSA

NAMPIJJA RITAH

NINSIIMA PATIENCE
INTRODUCTION:

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Hypertension is one of the leading and modifiable risk factors for NCDs world-wide, thus a

major precipitant for mortality and morbidity yet its control is not routinely emphasized (Lim,

Vos et al. 2012, Kaddumukasa and Goldstein 2017, Rahman, Zaman et al. 2018). In addition ,

hypertension is a main risk factor for preventable death(Castro-Porras, Rojas-Martínez et al.

2021).According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.4 billion people globally

have hypertension and a high prevalence has been observed in Africa, especially in low and

middle income countries with about 46% of adults aged 25 years above being

hypertensive(Ibrahim and Damasceno 2012).

Several studies have indicated a high prevalence of hypertension among market traders: A study

in 3 markets in Lagos in Nigeria among 391 participants found out that 46.6% with hypertension

were unaware of their hypertensive status(Achonu, Amira et al. 2022); one in market of

Dantokpa in Benin among 255 women market traders showed that 34% were hypertensive and of

these, 14% were newly screened(Ibrahim, Adébayo et al. 2020). A study in Maiduguri, Borno

state in regional market in Nigeria among 411 market traders showed that 102 were hypertensive

and of these 25% had undiagnosed hypertension (1 in every 4 market traders).(Vincent-Onabajo,

Adaji et al. 2017)

Hypertension prevalence and awareness data is crucial for understanding the magnitude of the

problem, identifying groups at high risk for NCDs and evaluating the effects of interventions in

policy and practice(van de Vijver, Akinyi et al. 2014).

GENERAL RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

To establish the awareness about hypertension, its prevalence and risk factors among market

traders in Mbarara city, south western Uganda.

SPECIFIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

i. To establish the awareness about hypertension among market traders in Mbarara city in

southwestern Uganda.

ii. To determine the prevalence of hypertension among market traders in Mbarara city in

southwestern Uganda.

iii. To establish the risk factors of hypertension among market traders in Mbarara city in

south western Uganda

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE AND INSTRUMENTS USED.

Data was collected from four different markets in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda. These

included: Central market, Rwebikoona, Koranorya and Markansingh market which were selected

randomly from the 8 major markets in the city.

INTRUMENTS USED DURING DATA COLLECTION

Among the equipment that we used were: 2 automatic blood pressure machines for measuring

blood pressure, 2 weighing scales for measuring weight and a stadiometer for measuring the

height. We were to use the height and weight to determine the BMI.
We also carried consent forms for consent from the participants and questionnaire forms (both

English and Runyankore versions). The latter was to assess the level of awareness about

hypertension and lifestyle of the participants.

Pens for signatures, taking notes and filling consent forms and questionnaires, thumb ink for

those who didn’t know how to sign.

PROCEDURE:

After seeking for permission from the concerned leaders of the four markets, we went market by

market starting from Central market, Markansingh, Koranorya and then Rwebikoona.

Each market was visited in a single day in one snapshot without any prior knowledge.

For each market we put a station inside the market, set our equipment ready for use but we were

changing from one station to within each market. We distributed ourselves; some were to give

consent forms and questionnaires and others were to take the blood pressure, height and weight.

After thorough explanation about the study, the participants were requested to consent. Those

who consented were guided by the researchers to answer the questions in the questionnaire forms

and the researchers filled in the responses. These were then escorted by the researchers to the

measurement station for blood pressure, height and weight measurements. Researchers at the

measurements’ station took the measurements and noted the results of blood pressure, height and

weight on each participant’s questionnaire form. Each participant was told about their blood

pressure status, weight and height after the measurements. We also referred participants who had

findings out of the normal range of blood pressure for further management from health facilities

with a referral note.

After the four days of data collection, we compiled all the data we collected, entered it into

Microsoft Excel, computed average blood pressure, BMI, graded blood pressure and BMI and

cleaned data. We then imported cleaned data from Microsoft excel to STATA for analysis.

DATA ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS

Data was obtained from four markets in Mbarara city: Central, n=92 (25.77%), Koranorya,

n=109 (30.53%), Markansingh, n=106 (29.69%) and Rwebikoona market, n=50 (14.01%). A

total of 357 market men and women participated in this study with 73.67% being females

(n=263) and 26.33% males (n=94). The mean age was 41.6years with a standard deviation of

11.04 years (min age 25, max age 79). 11.20% participants were divorced (n=40), 71.15%

Married (n=254) and 17.65% were single (n=63).

Only 4.20% were Degree holders (n=15), 1.68% diploma holders (n=6), 1.12% uneducated

(n=4), 41.18% secondary level (n=147) and the majority, 51.82% reached primary level (n=185).

PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION

22.69% had normal blood pressure (81), 44.82% were pre-hypertensive (160), and the rest,

32.49% were hypertensive (116). Of the 116 who were hypertensive, only 5.17% (6) knew that

were hypertensive and the majority, 94.83% were newly diagnosed.

RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION

1.12% of the participants were underweight (4), 23.25% had normal weight (83), 31.93% were

overweight (83) and the majority, 43.70% were obese (156).

AWARENESS ABOUT HYPERTENSION

94.96% didn’t know the range for the normal blood pressure, 74.72% of the participants knew

that hypertension would cause premature death, stroke, visual disturbance and heart disease.

54.9% didn’t know that hypertension causes kidney disease.

AWARENES ABOUT RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION

61.81% of the participants didn’t know that smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption

and eating red meat would cause hypertension. 76. 42% knew that eating too much salt and fat,

physical inactivity and stress can cause hypertension.

AWARENESS ABOUT MANAGEMENT

61.68% of the participants knew that hypertension is not just a result of aging and treatment is

necessary and that both treatment and change in lifestyle is important in controlling high blood

pressure.

LIFESTYLE

66.67% (238) of the participants reported sitting for > 4hours in a day and the rest, 33.33% (119)

sit for < 4hours. 52.66% (188) use a motorbike, 38.38% (137) walk, 5.05% (18) vehicle, 2.52%

(9) bicycle and 1.40% (5) use motorbike and sometimes walk.
Out of 357, 8 (2.2%) are engaged in physical exercise. 98.32% (n=351) do not smoke cigarette

and only 1.68% (6) smoke. Of those who smoke, (1) smoke 1 stick a day, (4) smoke 2 to 5 sticks

a day and only one smokes >5 sticks a day.

27.17% (97) out of the 357 participants drink alcohol with 3.36% (12) drinking 5 to 10 bottles a

day, 23.25% (83) <5 bottles day and 0.84% (3) drink >10 bottles.

The results were as in the table below

Percent
Parameter Freq. . Cum.
Site
Central market 92 25.77 25.77
Koranorya 109 30.53 56.30
Markansingh 106 29.69 85.99
Rwebikoona 50 14.01 100.00
Total 357 100.00

Sex
Female 263 73.67 73.67
Male 94 26.33 100.00

Marital status
Divorced 40 11.20 11.20
Married 254 71.15 82.35
Single 63 17.65 100.00

Level of education
Degree 15 4.20 4.20
Diploma 6 1.68 5.88
Primary 185 51.82 57.70
Secondary 147 41.18 98.88
Uneducated 4 1.12 100.00

Class of BMI
Normal 83 23.25 23.25
Obese 156 43.70 66.95
Overweight 114 31.93 98.88
Underweight 4 1.12 100.00
 Grade of BP
Grade 1 HTN 78 21.85 21.85
Grade 2 HTN 28 7.84 29.69
Grade 3 HTN 10 2.80 32.49
Normal 81 22.69 55.18
Pre-HTN 160 44.62 100.00

Mode of transport
Bicycle 9 2.52 2.52
Motorbike 188 52.66 55.18
Vehicle 18 5.04 60.22
Walk 137 36.38 98.60
Walk,
motorbike 5 1.40 100.00

The percentage of females who were hypertensive was higher than that of males, ie 26.33% (94)

and 6.16% (22) respectively. Our findings indicate that females are more likely to become obese

and hypertensive compared to the males as shown in tab 2 below:

Table 2: BMI and BP categorization

Males Females
Parameter No(%) No(%) Total
Grade of BP
Grade 1 18(5.04) 60(16.81) 78(21.85
Grade 2 2(0.56) 26(7.28) 28(7.84)
Grade 3 2(0.56) 8(2.24) 10(2.80)
Normal 21(5.88) 60(16.81) 81(22.69)
Pre-HTN 51(14.29) 109(30.53) 160(44.82)
357(100.0
Total 94(26.33) 263(73.67) 0)

Class of
BMI
Normal 42(11.76) 41(11.48) 83(23.25)
Obese 16(4.48) 140(39.22) 156(73.70
Overweight 33(9.24) 81(22.69) 114(31.93)
Underweig
ht 3(0.84) 1(0.28) 4(1.12)
357(100.0
Total 94(26.33) 263(73.67) 0)