ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSION PREVENTION AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge of hypertension prevention among academic

staff of Federal Universities in the Northern States of Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, ex-post

facto research design was used, population of the study comprised of academic staff of Federal

Universities in the nineteen (19) Northern States and FCT of Nigeria, estimated at twenty

thousand, two hundred and fifteen (20,215). 740 respondents were drawn from six selected

federal universities in the Northern states of Nigeria; participants were selected using multi

stage sampling technique. A close–ended questionnaire was used to obtain responses from the

participants. 740 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 735 (99.5%) copies of the

questionnaire were duly filled and returned. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages,

means and standard deviation were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the

respondents and answer the research question respectively. The formulated hypothesis was

tested using one sample t-test, at 0.05 level of significance. The finding showed that: academic

staff of federal universities in the Northern states of Nigeria have significant knowledge of

hypertension prevention (P = 0.02). Thus, it was concluded that knowledge of hypertension

prevention exists among academic staff of federal universities in the Northern states of Nigeria.

Based on the conclusion drawn in the study, the researchers recommend that Health educators

should intensify efforts towards ensuring that knowledge and attitude of academic staff and the

general populace about hypertension prevention is sustained.