BackgroundHypertension is problem already faced by urban populations of South Africa, but little is known about its prevalence and risk factors in rural areas.AimTo assess the prevalence of and risk factors associated with hypertension amongst adults in a rural community in South Africa.SettingDikgale Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Limpopo Province, South Africa.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out at this site where individuals aged 15 years and older were screened using a locally adapted version of the World Health Organization STEPwise questionnaire. Demographics, anthropometry and three independent blood pressure (BP) readings were taken. The average of the three BP measurements was used in analysis, and hypertension taken as systolic and diastolic BP of ≥ 140 or ≥ 90 mmHg respectively, or at least a two-week history of antihypertensive treatment. Analysis included the Chi-square test and statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.ResultsA total of 1407 individuals were interviewed, of whom 1281 had complete BP, weight and height measurements taken. The mean age of participants was 44.2 ± 20.9 years(range 15–98 years), 63% were female, 55% were single and 90% were unemployed, whilst 13% were tobacco smokers and 20% reported drinking alcohol. Overall prevalence of hypertension was 41% and this was significantly associated with age and marital status.ConclusionThe prevalence of hypertension was found to be high. Prevention strategies are urgently needed to address this life-threatening and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in rural Limpopo Province.

Purpose: To investigate the association between adiposity and pedometry-assessed ambulation in a convenience sample of adult, rural black South African women. Methods: Pedometry data were collected over 7 days in 121 subjects. Adiposity measures included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage body fat (PBF). Results: Sedentarism (o5000 steps day À1 ) was found in 13.7%, while 39.7% were classified as accruing sufficient physical activity (X10 000 steps day À1 ). Significant associations (Po0.02) existed between steps day À1 and adiposity measures (r ¼ À0.22 to À0.23). After adjusting for age, only BMI remained significantly associated with steps day À1 (r ¼ À0.20, P ¼ 0.032). Significant age-adjusted linear trends were found across combined BMI-WC risk categories for steps day À1 (P ¼ 0.036). Adjusting for age, motor vehicle access, education, use of tobacco products and comorbidities, BMI decreased 1.4 kg m À2 per 5000 steps day À1 (P ¼ 0.035), access to a motor vehicle within the household increased PBF by 4% (P ¼ 0.018), and compared with sedentarism, the risk of obesity (BMI X30 kg m À2 ) was 52% lower at 10 000 steps day À1 (P ¼ 0.028). Conclusion: Modest associations were found between adiposity and ambulation. Ambulation decreased the risk for obesity, while motor vehicle access was associated with increased adiposity levels.