KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF HYPERTENSION, IT'S PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT AMONG BANK EMPLOYEES

1.1 Introduction

Jobs in the banking sector are perceived challenging and stressful; therefore, the likelihood of hypertension among the bank employees is high. The job of bank employees is both sedentary in nature and accompanies high levels of mental stress, thereby at a higher risk of developing hypertension. High blood pressure occurs when one’s blood move through the arteries at a higher speed than normal. It is also known that for now there is no cure for high blood pressure (Papadakis et al., 2008). Hypertension is one of the most common self-reported occupational health problems (Messing, 2008). Sedentary life-style and mental stress are important risk factors for hypertension. The global prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults aged 18 years and over was around 22% in 2014 (WHO, 2014).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

The banking industry in Nigeria is very competitive and is the hub of economic activities in the country. Prevalence of hypertension among bankers and other workers with occupations with a similar sedentary pattern has been found to be higher. Maroof et al. in 2006 observed a prevalence of 69.5% among bankers in a district in India (Maroof et al., 2007). In this study, hypertension was associated with mental stress (Maroof et al., 2007). Job strain has also been similarly found to be significantly related to hypertension with a odds ratio of 1.18 (Maroof et al., 2007). Bank staff are under intense pressure of work with little time to care for their bodily needs.

Hypertension remains a major global public health challenge that has been identified as the leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Kearney, Whelton, Reynolds, Muntner, Whelton& He, 2004). It increases hardening of the arteries, thus predisposing individuals to heart diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. Hypertension is the commonest non-communicable disease in the world and all races are affected with variable prevalence.

Castelli (2004) explained that its prevalence is on the increase in developing countries where adoption of western lifestyle and stress of urbanization, both of which are expected to increase morbidity associated with unhealthy lifestyle are not on the decline. Andreoli, Carpenter, Grigs and Loscalzo (2004) were of the opinion that hypertension produces disruptions in health, disability and death in the adult population worldwide.

Ejike, Ezeanyika and Ugwu (2010) stated that hypertension causes one in every eight deaths worldwide, making it the third leading killer disease in the world. They also estimated that about one billion adults, the world over, had hypertension in the year 2010 and the number is expected to rise to 1.56 billion in the year 2025 if positive intervention programme is not made. Aram, George, Henry, Williams, Lee, and Joseph (2003) indicated that fifty million Americans have high blood pressure, approximately one in three adults.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure is the persistent blood pressure in the arteries above ninety millimetres of mercury (mmHg) between the heart beats (diastolic) or over 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) at the beats (systolic) (Aquilla, 2008). According to Hyman and Parlik (2003), hypertension is the persistent raised levels of blood pressure in which the systolic pressure is above 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg. The normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called ‘Pre-hypertension, and a pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high (abnormal) blood pressure.

In United States of America, approximately twenty eight (28) to thirty one per cent of adults have hypertension (Fields, Burt & Cutler (2004). Of this population, 90 to 95 per cent have primary hypertension. The remaining five to tenper cent of this group have secondary hypertension. In China, almost 130 million people aged 35-74 years are estimated to be hypertensive (Camel & Delene, 2006). Similarly in Ghana, studies revealed a hypertension prevalence of forty per cent among rural dwellers and eight per cent to thirteen per cent in the urban areas. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is the most rapidly rising cardiovascular disease and affecting over 20 million people (Kadiri, 2005).

Therefore, in Delta State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Knowledge and Perception of Hypertension, it’s Prevention and Management among Bank Employees.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation reveals the Challenges of Knowledge and Perception of Hypertension, it’s Prevention and Management among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State research work:

1. A lot of Bank Employees have died as a result of Hypertension.
2. High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other complications.
3. Heart failure: To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, the heart has to work harder. This causes the walls of the heart's pumping chamber to thicken (left ventricular hypertrophy). Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body's needs, which can lead to heart failure.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge and Perception of Hypertension, it’s Prevention and Management among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To evaluate the knowledge, perception, attitudes and life-style practices of hypertensive Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State;
2. To examine the perception of clients towards the management of hypertension;
3. To describe the barriers to effective management of hypertension;
4. To determine the level of knowledge and perception of hypertension and its management possessed by hypertensive Bank Employees; and
5. To determine the extent and direction of the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the knowledge, perception, attitudes and life-style practices of hypertensive Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State?
• What is the extent and direction of the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State?
• What are the barriers to effective management of hypertension?
• What is the level of knowledge and perception of hypertension and its management possessed by hypertensive Bank Employees?
• What is the extent and direction of the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no relationship between the socio-demographic variables and hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State
• H1: There is relationship between the socio-demographic variables and hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant effect of hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State
• H1: There is significant effect of hypertension among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State

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1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of this research work will help individuals to predict their blood pressure given their weight and will equally help them to know what to do when their blood pressure (Hypertension) rises. This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Knowledge and Perception of Hypertension, it’s Prevention and Management among Bank Employees in Asaba, Delta State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure, a state of great psychological stress.

Hypertension Management: Hypertension is managed using lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medications. Hypertension is usually treated to achieve a blood pressure of below 140/90 mmHg to 160/100 mmHg.

Knowledge: Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Perception: Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information, or the environment.