Hypertension(HTN) is emerging a public health problems in various ethnic groups in the developing countries like India. Prevalence of hypertension has been found to be increasing in epidemic proportions in urban, rural and tribal population of India. The present study is to assess the prevalence of hypertension among adults tribal populatin. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of hypertension among adult tribal population and find out the association between hypertension with selected sociodemographic variables and selected physical measurement. Methodology- A community based, cross sectional study was carried out in tribal Manaly ward of Vithura panchayath by adopting multistage random sampling procedure. During home visit,socio-personnel data and general information regarding hypertensive status were collected from adults by personal interviews using an interview schedule, followed by physical measurements taken. Blood pressure was measured for every subject in the sitting position, the right arm placed at heart level, using a calibrated mercurial sphygmomanometer. Average value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was recorded. Known case of hypertensive with or without antihypertensive treatment was also considered ashypertensive. Results of the study shows that overall prevalence of hypertension was 34.7% (52) among this 24% (36) were known hypertensive, 10.66% (16) were newly detected hypertensive and 10%(15) were prehypertensives. A significant association was established between hypertensive status with age, gender, education, salt intake, duration of smokeless tobacco, duration of alcoholism and lifestyle modification. Findings of the study have implication in nursing practice, education, administration and research.
Deepthi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.