Factors Associated with Developing Hypertension Among Health Care Workers in Hippo Valley Sugar Estate, Chiredzi District, 2022- 2023

Abstract

Africa faces a healthcare workforce crisis with a projected shortfall of 6.1 million healthcare workers by 2030. Zimbabwe has experienced a sustained economic crisis that has severely impacted the health system and resulted in a mass exodus of health workers. Healthcare workforce forms the core of any health system and maintaining staff wellbeing is critically important for good population health status, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the ability to combat future pandemics. The study’s main aim was to determine risk factors associated with developing hypertension (HTN) among health care workers at Hippo Valley Estate from January 2022 to December 2023. An analytical cross-sectional study was done using both qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis of data in the period of January 2022 to December 2023. A sample size of 107 health care workers was calculated using Epi info version 7.2.6.0. Stratified random sampling method was used in the selection of the participants. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, secondary data for lipid profile results and BMI (body mass index) was collected using participants’ hospital books and vital measurement was collected using an electronic sphygmomanometer. STATA version 12 was used to generate frequencies, medians and proportions. A total of 107 participants were enrolled into the study. Most of the participants were above 50 years. They were few participants ranging from 18-29 year. Most participants were married, few divorced and widowed. The most common cause of Hypertension was among smokers with a prevalence ratio of 0.55; 95% CI:1.38-4.16; p=0.004 while non-smokers had a 23% prevalence of HTN. Physical inactivity was noted to be associated with high prevalence of HTN with a 0.45 prevalence rate; 95% CI:1.23-4.81; p=0.004). Having a positive family history of hypertension was with HTN at 95% CI:1 25-4.44; p=0.005. There was low prevalence of HTN in participants who were obese and higher age group above 40 years and gender had no effect in prevalence of HTN in this study. It recommends that there is a need for the health system to consider adopting a team-based approach by enabling understanding of regulatory body policies affecting health care professionals and service delivery in the Zimbabwe. The health care policy guidelines and regulatory support should be tailor-made with respect to the redistribution of individual work duties, regular checking of Blood pressure on employees, this may be modified to facilitate team-based care.