ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a common, important and major global public health problem. It is the leading cause of mortality and the third largest cause of disability worldwide. In view of this background, this study has empirically examined the knowledge of hypertension among the staff of the Kaduna State University. To address the problem of study, four research questions were raised. The researcher adopted a survey research design. A total of one hundred and three (103) respondents comprised the target of the study. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), frequency tables and percentages (%) were employed in the data analysis. The result showed that excess smoking, excess alcohol intakes, stress, high blood glucose, physical inactivity and too much salt and too little potassium intake are causes and risk factors attributed to hypertension. Hypertension can cause stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart attack/heart failure, cardiovascular diseases and coronary artery disease. Most respondents are aware of their hypertension status and undertake medical checkup of their blood pressure on monthly basis. It is recommended that avoidance of stress, engaging in dietary regulations, regular medical checkup, adoption of healthy life style, maintaining a healthy body weight, avoid smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and increased physical activity/regular exercises are preventive measure that could be adopted against hypertension

                                                                        TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
CHAPTER ONE
1.0    INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study    ………………………………………………………………..…..1
1.2    Statement of research problem    ……………………………………………………........2
1.3    Research question    …………………………………………………………………..........4
1.4 Research objectives    …………………………………………………………………...........5
1.5    Significance of the study    ………………………………………………………................5
1.6 Scope of the study    …………………………………………………………………..……......6

CHAPTER TWO
2.1    Introduction    …………………………………………………………………….....................7
2.2     Knowledge of the causes and risk factors attributed to hypertension    ………………..7
2.3    Prevalence of hypertension    ………………………………………………………….........13
2.4    The awareness level on hypertensive status    ………………………………………….....17
2.5    The practices adopted in the management and prevention of hypertension    ………...20
2.6     Theoretical Framework    …………………………………………………………................31
2.6.1    The Health Belief Model (HBM)    ………………………………………………….…........31
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CHAPTER THREE
3.1     Introduction    ……………………………………………………………………....................38
3.2     Location of the study    …………………………………………………………...…………...38
3.3     Study population and Sampling method    ……………………………………….....……...39
3.4    Method of data collection    …………………………………………………………..............40
3.5     Method of data analysis    …………………………………………………………................41
3.6    Problems encountered from the field    ……………………………………………...............41

CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.0    Introduction    ………………………………………………………………………....................42
4.1 Socio- demographic characteristics of respondents    ……………………………..................42
4.2 Knowledge of the causes and risk factors attributed to hypertension    ………………..........45
4.3 Prevalence of hypertension    ……………………………………………………………..............49
4.4 The awareness level on hypertensive status    …………………………………………….........50
4.5 The practices adopted in the management and prevention of hypertension    ………….......51

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction    ……………………………………………………………………………....................55
5.1 Summary of findings    …………………………………………………………………....….............55
5.2    Discussion of major findings    ………………………………………………………….................56
5.3    Conclusion    …………………………………………………………………………...................…62
5.4 Recommendations    ……………………………………………………………………………..........62
REFERENCES    …………………………………………………………………………….....................64