Elevated blood pressure among primary school children in Dar es salaam, Tanzania: prevalence and risk factors

Abstract Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common acquired heart disease occurring in children and adolescents. RHD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly in low and middle- income countries (LMICs) where the burden is estimated to be higher compared to high income countries. Subclinical RHD is the presence of valvular lesion diagnosed by echocardiography in a person with no clinical manifestation of RHD. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, types and factors associated with subclinical RHD among primary school children in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive community-based study which recruited primary school children from February to May 2019. A standardized structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information related to prior history of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Anthropometric measurements were taken and chest auscultation and echocardiographic screening were done to all study participants. World Heart Federation echocardiographic classification was used to define the types and prevalence of subclinical RHD. Results: A total of 949 primary school children were enrolled with females being predominant (57.1%). The prevalence of subclinical RHD was 34 per 1000. All the participants had mitral valve disease only whereby 17 had definite disease and 15 had a borderline disease. The associated factors for subclinical RHD were older age of more than 9 years (OR 10.8, 95% CI 1.4-82.2, P=0.02) having three or more episodes of URTI in previous six months (OR 21, 95% CI 9.6-46, P=0.00) and poor hygiene (OR 3, 95% CI 1.3-6.8, P=0.009) Conclusion: Subclinical RHD as detected by echocardiographic screening is prevalent in primary school children, uniformly affects the mitral valve, and is associated with potentially modifiable risk factors. Children with a history of more than three episodes of URTI in six months may represent a particularly high-risk population that should be targeted for RHD.

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Prevalence of Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Risk factors for transmission among Primary School Children in an urban endemic area of Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

10.21203/rs.3.rs-250219/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yonah Yangaza ◽

Vivian Mushi ◽

Abdallah Zacharia

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Side Effects ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Endemic Area ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Urogenital Schistosomiasis ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene ◽

At Home

Abstract Objectives: To determine the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis and water, sanitation, and hygiene risk factors for transmission among primary school children in an urban endemic area of Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2020 to determine the prevalence of S.haematobium. A total of 250 urine samples were collected from primary school children, examined for haematuria using urinalysis test strips, and S.haematobium infection and intensity using the urine filtration technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on water, sanitation, and hygiene risk factors that could influence the transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22.Results: Out of 250 primary school children recruited, 13(5.2%) had haematuria, 3(1.2%) had S.haematobium ova, and all were light-intensity infections. Among the risk factor assessed the following were significantly associated with the transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis; type of latrine used at home (p=0.044), frequency of swimming (p=0.030), the children who never swallowed praziquantel (p<0.00), experienced side effects (p<0.00), type of side effects experienced (p=0.037), and reasons for not taking praziquantel in the last round of mass drug administration (p=0.007).Conclusions: The low prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis indicates the ongoing transmission of the disease among primary school children. Frequency of swimming, type of latrines used at home, and non-uptake of praziquantel are the risk factors for the infection among primary school children. Therefore there is a need to provide health education to promote the uptake of praziquantel.

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Elevated Blood Pressure in School Children and Adolescents – Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Collegium Antropologicum ◽

10.5671/ca.2012361s.147 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Vera Musil ◽

Marjeta Majer ◽

Vesna Jureša

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

School Children ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Associated Risk Factors

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Mental Health, Risk Factors and Access to Care for Primary School Children in the Island of Mauritius

Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.2174/221067660404150115163000 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 293-304

Author(s):

Sobharani Sungum-Paliwal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Primary School ◽

Access To Care ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Health Risk Factors

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Effects of Cranberry Juice Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adults with Elevated Blood Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2618

Author(s):

Chesney K. Richter ◽

Ann C. Skulas-Ray ◽

Trent L. Gaugler ◽

Stacey Meily ◽

Kristina S. Petersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Lipoprotein Profile ◽

Cranberry Juice ◽

Central Systolic Blood Pressure

Emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including central vascular function and HDL efflux, may be modifiable with food-based interventions such as cranberry juice. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted in middle-aged adults with overweight/obesity (n = 40; mean BMI: 28.7 ± 0.8 kg/m2; mean age: 47 ± 2 years) and elevated brachial blood pressure (mean systolic/diastolic BP: 124 ± 2/81 ± 1 mm Hg). Study participants consumed 500 mL/d of cranberry juice (~16 fl oz; 27% cranberry juice) or a matched placebo juice in a randomized order (8-week supplementation periods; 8-week compliance break), with blood samples and vascular measurements obtained at study entry and following each supplementation period. There was no significant treatment effect of cranberry juice supplementation on the primary endpoint of central systolic blood pressure or central or brachial diastolic pressure. Cranberry juice significantly reduced 24-h diastolic ambulatory BP by ~2 mm Hg compared to the placebo (p = 0.05) during daytime hours. Cranberry juice supplementation did not alter LDL-C but significantly changed the composition of the lipoprotein profile compared to the placebo, increasing the concentration of large LDL-C particles (+29.5 vs. −6.7 nmol/L; p = 0.02) and LDL size (+0.073 vs. −0.068 nm; p = 0.001). There was no effect of treatment on ex vivo HDL efflux in the total population, but exploratory subgroup analyses identified an interaction between BMI and global HDL efflux (p = 0.02), with greater effect of cranberry juice in participants who were overweight. Exploratory analyses indicate that baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) values may moderate treatment effects. In this population of adults with elevated blood pressure, cranberry juice supplementation had no significant effect on central systolic blood pressure but did have modest effects on 24-hr diastolic ambulatory BP and the lipoprotein profile. Future studies are needed to verify these findings and the results of our exploratory analyses related to baseline health moderators.

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