Blood Pressure Pattern among Working and Non-Working Women in A Suburban Community in Alexandria

Fahmy, Fahmy Ch.; Khamis, Nahla; Arafa, M; Nofal, Laila

doi:10.21608/jhiph.2000.243840

Blood Pressure Pattern among Working and Non-Working Women in A Suburban Community in Alexandria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Occupational Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt

² Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt

³ Department of Biostatistics, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt

10.21608/jhiph.2000.243840

Abstract

Elevated blood pressure [BP] seems to be more prevalent among Egyptian women especially in low socioeconomic areas. This study was designed to investigate the influence of work on the pattern of BP among working and non-working women, as well as the prevalence, the rates of knowledge, awareness and control of hypertension in a suburban community in Alexandria. This study included 100 working women in auxiliary and technical physically active jobs and another group of 100 non-working women from the same area. They answered a questionnaire including personal and medical data, smoking and dietary habits, family history of hypertension, and their knowledge about risk factors, symptoms and complications of hypertension. Weight, height, random capillary blood glucose and BP were measured by the standard methods. The working women were significantly more educated and less obese than the non-working women [p < 0.001 for both]. Systolic and diastolic BP showed significantly different patterns among working versus non-working women with more prevalent extreme levels of BP in the non-working group [p < 0.001 for both]. The prevalence rates of hypertension [systolic BP = or > 140 mm Hg, or diastolic BP = or > 90 mm Hg, or antihypertensive treatment] were 36% and 37% among working and non-working women respectively. Of the hypertensive working women 36.1% were unaware of their condition compared to 51.4% of the hypertensive non-working women. Work and education were independent determinants of systolic BP after adjustment of other potential confounders in the studied population [p < 0.05 for both]. Knowledge about risk factors of hypertension was independently related to both systolic and diastolic BP after control for other confounders [p = 0.022 & 0.037 respectively]. In conclusion, BP showed a better profile among working than among non-working women in the current setting. Interactive mechanisms in work should be optimized to control BP. Non-working women in under-served communities should receive similar health preventive program for BP control.

Keywords