Prevalence, Renal Ultra-Sonographic Patterns and Factors Associated with Hypertension among Primary School Children in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda
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Date
2020-10
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Kampala International University
Abstract
Background: Hypertension is a non-communicable disease and public health problem whose adulthood occurrence can be traced back to childhood. Previous studies have shown an increasing trend in the magnitude of hypertension with a shift from high income to low income countries. In addition, annual increases in childhood systolic high blood pressure have been reported in children and adolescents. Hypertension has adverse consequences, including end-organ damage by adulthood. Most of the studies were conducted in high income countries and there is minimal data regarding hypertension and factors associated among primary school children living in low resource settings. Objective: To determine the prevalence, renal ultra-sonographic patterns, and factors associated with hypertension among primary school children in Bushenyi-lshaka municipality in Western Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 422 randomly selected primary school children aged 6-12 years in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality was conducted between July and September 2020. Questionnaire interviews were used to obtain socio-demographic, medical, dietary and behavioral factors data. A digital weighing scale, stadiometer, Riester sphygmomanometer, and Sonosite Titan portable ultrasound scan machine were used to measure body weight, height, blood pressure and renal ultra-sonography of participants, respectively. Data were entered using the statistical computer software package, Microsoft Excel 2019, and analyzed using Stata 14.0. The prevalence of hypertension was determined as a proportion whereas binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with hypertension and a p-value <0.05 considered for statistical significance. Results: Of the 422 study participants, 253 (60%) of them were studying in public and 169 (40%) private schools, 242 were male and 180 female, with a mean age of 9.4 ± 2.0 years, 14 (3.3%) had hypertension. Overall, 58 (13.7%) had high blood pressure. Children with a family history of overweight/obesity were more likely to have hypertension (aOR; 6.12, 95% CI: 1.33-28.27, p=0.02). Only one child with hypertension had features suggestive of renal artery stenosis on renal ultrasonography Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension was relatively low. Family history of overweight/obesity was associated with hypertension in children. This study demonstrates the need for routine blood pressure monitoring especially in children with a family history of obesity. Further studies with a larger sample of children with hypertension are recommended to generate evidence regarding additional risk factors (including renal disease) for hypertension in school children in Western Uganda.