RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD PRESSURE AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG MARRIED AND UNMARRIED FEMALE STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN KADUNA STATE

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk factors have been reported in settings of stress, lack of social
support, altered patterns of feeding, poor socioeconomic factors and poor night sleep duration at
differing levels of marital status. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular
disease (CVD) in women. There are specific risk factors in women which may contribute to CVD
risk. This study was carried out at the department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu University Zaria.
Aim: The study was aimed at analyzing the relationship between blood pressure and BMI among
married and unmarried females.
Method: This study involved 200 female subjects selected by Simple Random Sampling
Technique, 100 unmarried and 100 married, within the age range of 15-65 years. Their blood
pressure, height and weight were measured and Body Mass Index determined (BMI). Data
collected was expressed as mean ±SEM and analysed using independent t-test.
Results: In this study, the mean systolic blood pressure in unmarried women was found to be
118.09 ± 1.56mmHg while in married women was 120.30 ± 1.15 mmHg. The mean diastolic blood
pressure in married respondents was significantly higher at 79.31 ± 0.83mmHg than in unmarried
individuals which was 76.40 ± 0.88 mmHg. Also, the mean (BMI) of unmarried women was 57.97
± 1.05 kg/m2 and in married women, 69.37 ± 1.29 kg/m2 with a higher prevalence of both
overweight and obesity observed among married women compared to their unmarried
counterparts.
Conclusion
This study concluded that unmarried women had lower blood pressure and less likelihood of being
overweight.