2025/07/03 by Afe, Duke, Ajetomobi, Ajayi, Durowaye, Mathew +3
#Adolescents #Anthropometric parameters #Hypertension #Kogi State
paper · doi:10.71637/tnhj.v25i2.905
Background: The prevalence of hypertension among adolescents is a global health challenge. This study investigated the correlation between anthropometric parameters and blood pressure in apparently healthy adolescents in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 810 mixed-sex secondary school students. Data were obtained using a structured self‐administered questionnaire, anthropometric parameters were measured and participants' blood pressure was measured using the mercury sphygmomanometer. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical package (version 25.0) with level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the study population was 14.41 ± 2.03 years with no significant gender difference (p = 0.308). The females had significantly higher, Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.001), Waist Circumference (WC) (p=0.020), and Hip Circumference (HC) (p< 0.001) compared with the males, while the males had a significantly higher Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) (p< 0.001) compared with females. The prevalence of hypertension among the study population was 16.3%, and the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 101.76 ± 13.18mmHg and 65.05 ± 10.44mmHg respectively. The females had significantly higher mean DBP (p = 0.003) and SBP (p= 0.049) compared with the males. Significant positive correlations were found between anthropometric parameters for both SBP and DBP (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of hypertension reported in this study, it is recommended that regular blood pressure measurement and nutrition education programs should be incorporated into the Secondary school Health Program.