Risk factors of increased blood pressure among adolescents in rural areas of Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension in adolescents can increase mortality and morbidity rates, affecting productivity decline in adolescents. The prevalence of hypertension in adolescents is increasing and is often not realized by adolescents. This study aimed to identify risk factors for increased blood pressure in adolescents in rural areas. Methods: This study uses a cross-sectional study designcarriedoutinMay2022inoneoftheseniorhigh schools in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Thesampleinthisstudywasstudentsaged13-18years (n=44) based on the inclusion criteria. The sampling technique used was convenience sampling with data analysis using Chi-Square. Results: The results showed that adolescents with normal blood pressure were 31 respondents (70.5 %), while an increase in blood pressure was 13 respondents (29.5 %). There was a significant relationship between smoking (OR =0.173, 95 % CI 0.038-0.785, p-value 0.016) and a history of alcohol consumption (OR= 4,000, 95 % CI 1.009-15.862, p-value 0.042) with an increase in blood pressure in adolescents. Gender, family history of hypertension, physical activity, and a high salt diet did not have a significant relationship with an increase in blood pressure in adolescents with a p-value > 0.05. Conclusion: Adolescents with smoking habits and alcohol consumption have a greater chance of experiencing an increase in blood pressure. Health workers need to screen for increased blood pressure and educate the impact of alcohol and smoking on adolescents to prevent an early increase in blood pressure.