Assessing risk factors associated with primary hypertension among military personnel at Peter Mweshihange Military Heakth Centre in Windhoek

Hypertension is a preventable major risk cardiovascular non-communicable disease with a prevalence of 57% among adults aged 35 to 64 years in Khomas region, which is the highest in all regions in Namibia. The Health Management Information System (HMIS) database of the Peter Mweshihange Military Health Centre shows a high prevalence of hypertension among the military personnel in Windhoek. This study was conducted to explore non- modifiable and modifiable risk factors associated with hypertension among the military personnel in Windhoek, Namibia. A quantitative, cross-sectional and analytical study was performed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire as a data collection instrument. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 450 participants from 3257 military personnel population. However, 458 were distributed to cater for low responses. The study indicates that the majority (69.7%) of the participants were male, which shows that the military is a male-dominated profession. The findings from multivariate logistic regression found age (0.000) and blood relatives with hypertension (0.000), the frequency of tobacco use on a daily basis (0.044) or every 2 hours (0.031) was statistically significantly associated with hypertension and mitigating factors for hypertension such as regular check –ups (0.000) were protective against hypertension. It is recommended that surveillance, prevention, educational and awareness programmes on hypertension risk factors to be introduced and maintained among military personnel. Modification of lifestyle, such as reduction of alcohol consumption, reducing or cessation of tobacco use, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy body weight, especially when above 30 years need to be adhered to by military personnel at Peter Mweshihange Health Centre in Windhoek. Furthermore, military personnel should go for regular blood pressure check-ups especially those who have blood relatives with hypertension whether they are hypertensive or not hypertensive for early detection and control. Further research, particularly with a different study design, such as case control study, is necessary to assess the disease status (cases and controls) of the respondents at the beginning of the study by measuring their blood pressure.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Muleya, Lilian Njahi

• Risk factors
• Military personnel
• Hypertension

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/2992

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/2992