Article

Social Factors and Pattern of Blood Pressure Distribution among Academic Staff of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the social factors and distribution pattern of blood pressure among the faculty of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko (AAUA). Methods: It involved concurrently applying mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. The questionnaire and measurements of blood pressure and pulse rate were utilised as data collection instruments. The examined population includes the entire AAUA academic staff. Participants were selected for the study using multistage sampling procedures. In the first stage, five faculties of the university were chosen using a simple random sampling method. In the second stage, systematic sampling techniques were used to select participants for the study; a sample frame was comprised of academic staff from every fifth academic staff office at the selected faculties. Two instruments were used for data collection in this study. A self-designed questionnaire and an electronic sphygmomanometer were the instruments. Using the mean and standard deviation at a significance level of 0.05, the data were analyzed. Results: Findings on gender revealed that male staff displayed the highest blood pressure before examination (mean = 1.70), during examination (mean = 2.39) and after examination (mean = 1.79). On status the study further revealed academic staff at the level of a Reader exhibited the highest level of blood pressure before examination (mean = 2.00), during examination Readers (mean = 2.80) and after examination, Readers showed the highest level of blood pressure (mean = 2.00). Also on family type, the study also revealed that academic staffs who are polygamist displayed the highest blood pressure before examination (mean = 2.33), during examination (mean = 3.33) and after examination (mean = 2.33) than staff who are singles or monogamist. Conclusions: It is recommended that academic staffs are encouraged to devise comfortable means of harmonizing their professional and personal life so as to bring about healthy performance and avoidance of stress.

Keywords: Gender, Status, Family types, Academic staffs, Blood pressure pattern.