Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension among Traders in Lagos

Hypertension is defined as a sustained elevation in the blood pressure of an individual above levels considered normal for the individual’s age, sex, race, and body size. Awareness of hypertensive status among traders in Enugu was 29.4% as of 2017. This study focused on the level of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among traders in Lagos because of the increasing morbidity and mortality from hypertension in Lagos. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among a total of 391 traders selected from the Tejuosho market, Iponri market and Orile Iganmu market. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and blood pressure was read using a digital sphygmomanometer as well as anthropometric measurements. Data obtained was analyzed using Epi-info 7.2 software. Analysis was done at a 95% confidence interval with a P-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the chi-square test. Results: It was found that only 46.6% of the traders were aware of their hypertensive status with 62.5% currently on treatment and less than half (43.3%) being controlled for hypertension. Conclusions: This study showed that awareness of hypertensive status among the traders was low and the majority of the hypertensive traders were poorly controlled despite treatment greater than 6months. Recommendations: Traders to be educated about their health regularly, undergo frequent blood pressure screening and for Lagos state ministry of health to stipulate and enforce guidelines for hypertensive patients to get specialist care by regulating the activities of private hospitals in the management of hypertension.