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August 11, 2025
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December 29, 2025
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Abstract

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure (UBP) remains a major public health challenge in Ghana and contributes substantially to the burden of non-communicable diseases. This study assessed the prevalence of UBP and its associated factors among hypertensive adults in Ho Municipality, Ghana.


Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 305 hypertensive adults selected through multistage sampling from two major health facilities in Ho Municipality. Data on medication adherence and behavior were collected, and blood pressure measurements were taken. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 17.0.


Results: The mean age of participants was 54.5 ± 16.2 years, with females comprising the majority. Overall, 60.7% (185) of participants had UBP. Individuals with UBP consumed significantly fewer fruits and vegetables but higher amounts of table salt (66.92 g vs. 41.58 g. Inadequate physical activity, hazardous alcohol intake, and poor medication adherence were significant predictors of UBP (p < 0.001).


Conclusion: The high prevalence of UBP and its association with modifiable lifestyle and behavioral factors underscore the need for targeted interventions to promote healthy behaviors and improve medication adherence among hypertensive adults.

Keywords

Uncontrolled blood pressure hypertension Ghana adults lifestyle factors

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Copyright (c) 2025 Hardi Adam, Geoffrey Asalu, Paul Amuna

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Hardi Adam, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Hardi Adam is a nutritionist and public health researcher with training in nutrition and experience in health research in Ghana. He holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from the University of Health and Allied Sciences. He is currently working at Ho Teaching Hospital, where he manages malnutrition, diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and HIV. His research interests include non-communicable diseases and nutrition-related conditions. He is also a peer reviewer for PLOS ONE and a part-time tutor at the nurses' training college, Ho.

Geoffrey Asalu, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana

Dr. Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu is a Public Health Nutritionist and Lecturer at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana. He holds a PhD in Public Health with a specialization in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Ghana. His research addresses critical public health challenges, particularly in nutrition, food systems, HIV, and health systems strengthening in low-resource settings. Dr. Asalu was awarded the Erasmus+ Mobility Fellowship at the University of Sheffield, followed by his selection as a Fellow of the African Nutrition Leadership Programme in 2024.

Paul Amuna, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana

Paul Amuna is a physician scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He is also a Life Fellow of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (FIUNS). He was previously Principal Lecturer at the University of Greenwich in the United Kingdom, and currently Associate Professor and immediate past Dean at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana. His research interests include links between maternal health and inter-generational risks of chronic disease and the nutrition transition. He is currently part of an EU-Erasmus grant consortium on transdisciplinary training for non-communicable disease management and prevention in West Africa

How to Cite
Adam, H., Asalu, G., & Amuna, P. (2025). Factors Associated with Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Among Adult Hypertensives in Ho Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science, 4(2), 164–185. https://doi.org/10.56893/ajhes2025v04i02.11
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