[Prevalence of systemic hypertension and associated factors: a population-based study among women in the South of Brazil].

A cross-sectional study was carried out among women 20 to 60 years of age living in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, to determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors. Census tract sampling was used, and the outcome was defined by the presence of arterial pressure >or= 140/90mmHg and/or use of anti-hypertensive drugs. Among 1,020 interviewed people, 267 (26.