Determinants of hypertension and hypertension control among African Americans and Hispanics in the 2007 BRFSS survey dataset: An application of the PRECEDE model

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases in the United States. Individuals with hypertension that adopt healthy behavioral practices have optimal control of the disease and are less likely to have complications. This is a cross-sectional study that used the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey dataset, to evaluate the association of certain factors with hypertension and poor hypertension control among African Americans and Hispanics. The dataset had variables that were grouped as, predisposing, reinforcing or enabling constructs of PRECEDE model. The analysis showed that race, body mass indexes, and high cholesterol, were strongly associated with having hypertension. For poor hypertension control only race, body mass index, high blood cholesterol, and health advice were the variables it significantly related with. The findings may be used in planning effective health intervention that will reduce the magnitude of hypertension and improve hypertension control among African Americans and Hispanics.