Knowledge and Perception of Hypertension Among Academic Staff of Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a prevalent chronic health condition that poses significant risks to individuals and public health. It is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, and is associated with various complications. Academics, who play a crucial role in the education and development of students, are not exempted from the potential impact of hypertension on their health and well-being. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and perception of hypertension among academic staff at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in Imo State. A descriptive cross sectional study design was employed for the study, A structured questionnaire was used for the data collection of the study and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for the analysis of the study.A total of 333 participants were included in the study. The findings revealed that the majority of participants (95.0%) were familiar with the term "hypertension," and 78.4% correctly identified the normal range for blood pressure in adults as 120/80 mmHg. However, there were some misconceptions, with 10.4% providing an incorrect response. The perception of hypertension as a serious health condition was high, with 77.7% of participants agreeing or strongly agreeing. Participants recognized the potential complications of untreated hypertension (72.9%) and the importance of regular exercise (62.1%) and maintaining a healthy diet (61.3%) in managing hypertension. However, there were variations in the adoption of preventive practices, with only 33.5% reporting always consuming a healthy diet and 10.9% always engaging in regular exercise. The study also found a significant relationship between knowledge, perception, and preventive practices of hypertension (p = 0.0020). These findings highlight the importance of targeted educational programs and interventions to improve knowledge and promote healthy practices among academic staff at FUTO. Such initiatives can contribute to better hypertension prevention and management, leading to improved health outcomes among the academic community.