Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a disease that still a problem in the world. Hypertension is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke mortality. Economic development and an emphasis on coastal tourism may have an impact on public health conditions, such as hypertension. This study aimed to determine risk factors related to hypertension among adults in coastal communities in Indonesia. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 123 respondents between the age of 18-59 years old selected by cluster sampling. This study was conducted among coastal communities in Banyuwangi District, East Java, Indonesia. Data was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Our study showed that the prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension among residents of coastal communities were as high as 33.33% and 31.71%, respectively. Increasing age was associated with systolic and diastolic hypertension (OR(systolic)=1.11; 95% CI=1.03-1.19, p=0.01 and OR(diastolic)=1.07; 95% CI=1.01-1.15, p=0.03) after controlling other variables. Respondents with the poorest and richer socio-economic status had higher odds of having systolic and diastolic hypertension compared to respondents with the richest socio-economic status (OR(systolic-poorest) =12.78; 95% CI=1.61-101.54, p=0.02; OR(systolic-richer)=10.74; 95% CI =1.55-74.37, p=0.02 and OR(diastolic-poorest)=10.36; 95% CI= 1.40-76.74, p=0.02;OR(diastolic-richer)=6.45; 95% CI=1.01-41.43, p=0.05) after controlling other variables. CONCLUSION: Being of older age and of the lower in socioeconomic status are significantly associated with increasing risk for systolic and diastolic hypertension in these coastal communities. More studies need to be done in these and other coastal village to help design appropriate health promotion and counseling strategies for coastal community.