Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121478

Cris MK Malino, MPH 2006¹, Trace S. Kershaw, PhD², Maria J. Small, MD¹, and Rikerdy Frederic, MD³. (1) School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06511, 412-401-4498, christine.malino@yale.edu, (2) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 135 College Street, Suite 323, New Haven, CT 06510, (3) Division of Community Health, Hospital Albert Schweitzer, 10 Rue Clercine Cizeau, Port au Prince, Haiti

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major global public health risk and significant precursor to cardiovascular disease and maternal and infant mortality. Prevalence estimates vary from 13% to 34.8% of Haitian women. AIM: To determine the prevalence of hypertension, a cross-sectional survey of pre-menopausal women in rural Haiti was conducted. METHOD: 253 non-pregnant female participants, age 18-49 were enrolled over the course of June-July, 2005. Female patients seeking reproductive health services and women accompanying other patients seeking care were approached and interviewed at five health dispensaries serving the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer catchment area in rural Haiti. In addition, nurses recorded blood pressures, BMI, waist circumference, family history of CVD, diabetic status and current medications on every woman aged 18-49 who was seeking care and not pregnant. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension among women of reproductive age (28.7±8.2 years) in rural Haiti was found to be 21.6%. The rates varied widely between dispensaries, ranging from 9.4% to 29.8%. The most remote dispensaries showed moderate rates, while those in more accessible areas fell to the extremes. Of those who presented with hypertensive disease, 42.2% were non-isolated, while 51.1% had isolated diastolic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: As the only study that directly measures hypertension among women of reproductive age in Haiti, the prevalence reinforces that there is a significant population risk. The differences of hypertensive disease prevalence among communities indicate that structural interventions that address differences in behavior and social context between communities may be important to help reduce the effect of the disease on society.

Learning Objectives: At this session's conclusion a participant will be able to

• Describe the health risks associated with hypertension in the developing world.
• Discuss possible causal mechanisms for differing hypertension rates between Haitian communities.
• Construct and apply similar surveillance techniques to other developing nations.

Keywords: Hypertension, Developing Countries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.