PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF SELECTED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE

ABSTRACT Background: Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a widespread health issue that affects individuals of all age groups, including undergraduate students. The prevalence of hypertension among young adults, including undergraduate students, is on the rise due to various factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, stress, and genetics. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among undergraduate students of selected tertiary institutions in Ilorin, Kwara State. The research employed a descriptive cross-sectional design, with a sample of 380 undergraduate students representing the target demographic. The data was collected by the utilization of a self-administered structured questionnaire and subsequently subjected to analysis employing fundamental statistical techniques, including frequencies, percentages, and chi-square analysis. The researcher utilized a significance level of p-0.05. The majority of participants (47.5%) fell within the age range of 21-25 years, while 44.3% were younger than 20 years and 8.3% were between the ages of 26-30 years. Result: The majority of the participants were single, with only 8.1% reporting being married. In relation to the prevalence of hypertension among undergraduate, it was found that 27.4% experience symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or nosebleeds that could be indicative of hypertension. In general, it was found that 61.3% of the participants check for blood pressure before. Approximately 56.3% of the participants know the significant prevalence of hypertension among undergraduate students. The majority of participants (61.3%) reported a high risk of hypertension while 37.7% reported low risks of hypertension among participants. Among these individuals, 56.1% experience high levels of stress or anxiety on a regular basis. The majority of participants (87.9%) reported that they have not been diagnosed with other health conditions that are risk factors for hypertension, such as diabetes or obesity, with 86.3% of the respondent claimed that they are not overweight or obese and 76.8% did not know their current Body Mass Index (BMI), Approximately 56.3% of the participants reported that they have never received advised from healthcare professional to monitor their blood pressure regularly. On the other hand half of the respondent 50.0% and 50.0% claimed they have engage in regular physical activity (at least for 30 minutes per day) to help lower your blood pressure respectively, while 55.5% claimed they have not made change their diet to help them manage their hypertension (e.g. reducing salt intake, increasing fruits and vegetables). Additionally, it was observed that 58.4% of participants reported that they are not aware of the potential health consequences of untreated hypertension, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage, while 41.6% claimed that they are aware of the potential health consequences of untreated hypertension, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Regarding the source, medication majority of participants 75.8% reported that they do not take any medications prescribed from healthcare provider to control their blood pressure, 24.2% noted that they take medications prescribed from healthcare provider to control their blood pressure. Conclusion and Recommendation: Therefore, it is imperative that preventive measures be put in place to reduce the burden of hypertension and its complications among undergraduate students in Nigeria. it is important to further investigate the risk factors and develop targeted interventions to prevent and manage hypertension in this vulnerable population. By addressing lifestyle factors and promoting healthy behaviors, such as regular physical activity and a balanced diet, we can work towards reducing the burden of hypertension among undergraduate students and improve their overall health and well-being. Keywords: Prevalence, risks factor, health consequences, undergraduate, Students, Kwara State.