Blood Pressure Profile of Apparently Healthy Primary School Children in Delta State, Nigeria: Impact of Social Factors and Anthropometric Variables

Background: Systemic hypertension in children is one of the rising public health problems because of its attendant significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the rising prevalence of this problem, it is often under-reported as most of the attention has been focused on hypertension in adults with not much concerted effort made in tackling this problem in children. Aim: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of hypertension and possible risk factors for its development and their relationship to hypertension among healthy primary school children in Asaba, Delta State. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 400 primary school students in Asaba. Variables such as weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood pressure were measured using standard methods and the children categorized for hypertension and obesity using the Fourth Task Force Report and WHO BMI chart respectively. Result: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 3.5% and pre-hypertension 12.5%. The prevalence of hypertension increased from 2.4% in childhood to 12.5% in mid adolescents. Of the 14 subjects with hypertension, 12.5% were obese while 14.3% were overweight. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of subjects in public schools was higher than their counterparts in private schools. Prevalence of hypertension in children was independent of the socioeconomic status and the type of school attended by the children unlike obesity and presence of proteinuria which appeared to be influenced by these variables. Conclusion: Hypertension was observed to be common in the study subjects. It appeared to be more among obese children and those in their mid adolescent period.