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Elevated Blood Pressure among Rural South African Children in Thohoyandou, South Africa

Daniel Goon1, Lateef Amusa, Dorothy Mhlongo

  • 1Centre for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.

Iranian Journal of Public Health
|June 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Blood pressure increases with age in rural South African children. This study found elevated blood pressure and its correlation with body mass index (BMI) in children aged 7-13 years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Epidemiology
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Limited data exists on blood pressure profiles of rural South African children.
  • Previous research primarily focused on urban populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine blood pressure profiles in rural South African children in Thohoyandou.
  • To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 296 children aged 7-13 years.
  • Blood pressure measured thrice using validated electronic devices.
  • Overweight defined by BMI for gender and age; hypertension by BP ≥ 90th percentile.

Main Results:

  • Overweight prevalence was 4.7% in girls and 3.9% in boys.
  • Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with age in both sexes.
  • Hypertension incidence was low (0.4% in boys, 0.2% in girls) but correlated with age, BMI, and height.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated blood pressure is present in this rural South African pediatric population.
  • Blood pressure positively correlates with age, body weight, height, and BMI in children.
  • Findings highlight the importance of monitoring BP and BMI in rural children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Blood pressureBody mass indexOverweightRural childrenSouth Africa

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