DETERMINANTS OF HYPERTENSION IN METTU KARL HOSPITAL, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA: CASE CONTROL STUDY

Background: Hypertension has been the major public health challenge worldwide. In considerable proportion of cases, the disease tends to be symptomless for prolonged time and the known morbidity is much less than the known morbidity. Various sources revealed that, it became the major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to assess determinantsof hypertension. Methods Facility based matched case control study design was employed in Mettu Karl hospital from individuals visited the hospital for medical care. A total of 342 (114 cases and 228 controls) subjects constituted the sample size for this study. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurement were taken through standardized procedures and the rest data was collected through interviewer administered questioner. Data were entered onEPi Info version 3.5.3.and exported to SPSS version 16.0 statistical software packages for analysis. Results: Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and khat chewing, (AOR= 6.465, 95%CI: 3.486, 11.991), (AOR= 6.136, 95%CI: 3.247, 11.596), (AOR= 4.395, 95%CI: 2.308, 8.366) had higher odds of developing hypertension than non- smoker, no alcohol consumption and those who don’t chew khat respectively. Similarly body mass index, physical inactivity, family history of HTN and house hold family size, (AOR= 2.234, 95%CI: 1.300, 3.838), (AOR= 1.732. 95%CI: 1.041, 2.879), (AOR= 2.729, 95%CI: 1.797, 5.247), (AOR= 2.840, 95%CI: 1.526, 5.287) respectively were significantly associated with HTN occurrence. Conclusion and recommendation: The study shows that exposure to risk factors such as alcohol consumption, nature of routine work, nature sleep time, khat chewing, urban inhabitant, family history of hypertension, cigarette smoking and physical in activity, house hold family size, sleeping duration and BMI were determinants of hypertension development. So measures should have to be taken to minimize those risk factors.