Prevalence and modifiable determinants of hypertension among women in Bangladesh: A modified poisson regression analysis of nationwide data 2022

Abstract

Objectives

Hypertension in women must be detected early and managed properly. Identifying risk factors among women in a certain region or country can help prevent its effects and lower the risk of early death. Our study aimed to identify prevalence and modifiable determinants of hypertension among ever-married women in Bangladesh.

Study design

Nationwide cross-sectional study.

Methods

The study employed latest 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) dataset, selecting 4737 ever-married women for analysis. Modified Poisson regression with robust variance was applied to estimate the prevalence ratios of the determinants in our investigation, utilizing a 95 % confidence interval and a significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Results

The study revealed high prevalence of hypertension in Rangamati (Parbattya Chattagram) and Sylhet. Regarding modifiable determinants, higher prevalence was found among women with overweight (aPR: 1.81; 95 % CI: 1.63–2.01), hyperglycemia (aPR: 1.29; 95 % CI: 1.12–1.49), those who took doctor-prescribed medication for mental health (aPR: 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.08–1.80), those who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) (aPR: 1.18; 95 % CI: 1.03–1.36), and those who smoke tobacco (aPR: 1.25; 95 % CI: 1.04–1.50). Moreover, lactation is associated with a decreased risk of developing hypertension (aPR: 0.49; 95 % CI: 0.41–0.58) among Bangladeshi women.

Conclusions

Governments and NGOs should initiate awareness programs encouraging women in weight management, tobacco smoking cessation, and stress management techniques. Educational campaigns should be implemented throughout the antenatal and prenatal stages to enhance breastfeeding practices. Additionally, robust policies, legal assistance, and support should be provided for the management of IPV to reduce the risk of hypertension among women.