SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION AMONG NON-ACADEMIC STAFF IN UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Hypertension is a phenomenon which has been the main cause of high morbidity and mortality rate in both developing and developed countries will continue to prevail if the right action is not taken. The objective of this study was to determine the socio-demographic factors of hypertension among nonacademic staff in Universti Putra Malaysia aged 25 years and above.
Materials and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted after obtaining ethical approval from JKEUPM. Respondents were selected from using a simple random sampling technique. The data was collected from September 2014 to January 2015 by using pre-tested self-administered Questionnaire and blood pressure measurements on a sample of 580 respondents.
Results: Response rate was 69%. Overall proportion of hypertension among respondents is 8.8%. The proportion hypertension was higher among females, Malays, married, less educated (secondary education), higher income, professional staff, long duration employment, those with positive family history of hypertension. There were significance association between age (p=0.001), level of education (p=0.004) and employment duration (p=0.001) and hypertension. Multiple logistic regressions result showed that only age was the significant socio-demographic predictor of hypertension in this study where staff aged 45-54 and ≥55 years were more likely to have hypertension compared to staff aged 25-34 years (AOR 20.7 CI 4.5-94.6; AOR 68.9 CI 13.8-343.8) respectively.
Conclusion: This study has shown the prevalence of hypertension among non-academic staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia is lower than the national level. Awareness programme on prevention of hypertension should be planned for the university non-academic staff. Screening for hypertension is recommended for non-academic staff who are 35 years and above so as to ensure early detection and management of hypertension.
Keywords: Hypertension, socio-demographic factors, non-academic university staff.