Prevalence of hypertension and the associated factors among Sabar and Munda tribes of Eastern India.

Background: Hypertension can be attributable to about 10% of all non-communicable diseases (NCDs). There is a steady rise in the prevalence of hypertension among both the urban as well as the rural population and the tribal communities are no exception to this. The present study was done during 2009-10 among two tribes residing in a more developed eastern district of Odisha, but the results can be compared with the studies done in recent times.

Objective: 1. To find the prevalence of hypertension among the adult tribal population of Tangi-Choudwar block of Cuttack and to trace the associated risk factors of hypertension among them. 2. To assess their perception regarding hypertension.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the tribals of the Tangi-Chowdwar block of Cuttack district during 2009-2010. Total 832 study subjects aged >/=18 years were selected through multistage stratified random sampling. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were taken with standard instruments and methodology. Statistical tests, such as Chi-square, Logistic Regression, Odds Ratio, percentage, were used to analyze the data.

Result: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 16.7% and 41% were pre-hypertensive. Bivariate analysis showed that the risk of hypertension was significantly associated with the tribe type, age range, tobacco use, marital status, and stress ( < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that taking extra salt (OR-1.86; 95%CI-1.03-3.35) was significantly associated with hypertension ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: A large number of study participants (16.7%) were found to be hypertensive and in the majority of them, the common risk factors detected were tobacco usage and extra salt intake. Further epidemiological study needs to be conducted among these tribes to know the exact nature and causes of hypertension.