Abstract
BACKGROUND: The leading preventable risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide is hypertension. Globally, 31.1% of adults (1.39 billion people) have hypertension and 9.4 million deaths are recorded annually, accounting for 13% of overall mortality. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among public servants in North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 627 public servants. To classify candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression, a binary logistic regression model was applied. In order to analyze factors associated with hypertension among participants, all variables with a P-value<0.2 were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model. In order to determine statistical significance, a p value of less than 0.05 was taken. The assumptions of Chi square and multi-collinearity were verified. For model fitness, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit was checked. RESULTS: The total hypertension rate was 27.6% (95% CI: 24.1-31.3). The prevalence was higher in males 129 (32.5%) than in females 444 (19.1%). History of diabetes mellitus (AOR= 9.64, 95% CI: 3.20-29.30), age >35 years (AOR= 2.94, 95% CI: 1.91-4.51) and body mass index 25kg/m(2) and above (AOR= 3.44, 95% CI: 2.21-5.34) have been found to be separately associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Among public servants in the study setting (study area), hypertension has become a major public health issue. Half of the newly reported cases is hypertensive. The conclusion of this study calls for a more holistic approach to hypertension in terms of hypertension prevention, screening, and proper management.