ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSION PREVENTION AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper assessed the knowledge of hypertension prevention among academic staff of federal
universities in the northern states of Nigeria. One research question and hypothesis was formulated for
this study. Ex-post facto research design was used. The population of the study comprised of 20,215
academic staff of the twenty Federal Universities in the Northern Nigeria. The sample for this study
comprised of 740 academic staff which was drawn from the population of 20,215 in the 20 Federal
Universities of the Northern States of Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was a researcher-
developed close-ended questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of frequency distribution, percentages, mean,
standard deviation and inferential statistics of one sample t-test was used. The results revealed that
academic Staff of Federal Universities in Northern states of Nigeria are significantly knowledgeable
about hypertension prevention. It was concluded that Knowledge of hypertension prevention exists among
academic staff of federal universities in Northern states of Nigeria. It was recommended that Health
educators should double effort in ensuring that knowledge and attitude of Universities academic staff and
the general populace about hypertension prevention is sustained.