Hypertension Prevalence and Knowledge Assessment in Rural Haiti.

Objective: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease throughout the world. Little is known about the prevalence of hypertension in rural Haiti. Our study aims to estimate prevalence and knowledge of hypertension in Northern Haiti.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Four rural communities surrounding Milot, Haiti.Participants: Participants (69 males, 106 females, 175 total) were eligible to take part if they were aged > 18 years and not pregnant. Enrollment was voluntary.Methods: Two initial blood pressure measurements were taken for each participant. Participants who had an average systolic blood pressure >= 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mm Hg were instructed to return in 1 week for two additional confirmatory measurements. Based on these measures, participants were classified as either hypertensive or not. All participants were surveyed to assess their knowledge of hypertension.Results: The prevalence of hypertension among the study sample was 36.6%. Overall, 47% of women and 21% of men were hypertensive. Approximately 30% of women of reproductive age (18-39 years) were hypertensive. Participants showed little knowledge of the asymptomatic nature of hypertension and the need for lifelong treatment.Conclusions: Hypertension is prevalent in Haiti. The high prevalence of hypertension among women of reproductive age is a concern since it is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lack of knowledge surrounding hypertension indicates low awareness of the condition and is a possible target for future educational interventions.