Article Sidebar
Published:
May 20, 2008Article Details
Copyright remains in the Author’s name. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial Works License. Authors are required to complete and sign an Author Agreement form that outlines Author and Publisher rights and terms of publication. The Agreement form should be uploaded along with other submissions files and any submission will be considered incomplete without it [forthcoming].
Material submitted for publication in the SAMJ is accepted provided it has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Please inform the editorial team if the main findings of your paper have been presented at a conference and published in abstract form, to avoid copyright infringement. The SAMJ does not hold itself responsible for statements made by the authors.
Previously published images
If an image/figure has been previously published, permission to reproduce or alter it must be obtained by the authors from the original publisher and the figure legend must give full credit to the original source. This credit should be accompanied by a letter indicating that permission to reproduce the image has been granted to the author/s. This letter should be uploaded as a supplementary file during submission.
Main Article Content
Determinants and treatment of hypertension in South Africans: The first Demographic and Health Survey
Abstract
Objectives. To identify the groups of patients with high prevalence and poor control of hypertension in South Africa.
Methods. In the first national Demographic and Health Survey, 12 952 randomly selected South Africans aged 15 years and older were surveyed. Trained interviewers completed
questionnaires on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and the management of hypertension. This crosssectional survey included blood pressure, height and weight
measurements. Logistic regression analyses identified the determinants of hypertension and the treatment status.
Results. A high risk of hypertension was associated with less than tertiary education, older age groups, overweight and obese people, excess alcohol use, and a family history of
stroke and hypertension. Hypertension risk was lowest in rural blacks and significantly higher in obese black women than in women with a normal body mass index. Improved
hypertension control was found in the wealthy, women, older persons, Asians, and persons with medical insurance.
Conclusions. Rural black people had lower hypertension prevalence rates than the other groups. Poorer, younger men without health insurance had the worst level of hypertension
control.
South African Medical Journal Vol. 98 (5) 2008 pp. 376-380
