Perception, Awareness, and Lifestyle Risk Factors Associated with Hypertension among Staff of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

International audience Background: Hypertension is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally, yet awareness remains critically low among working adult populations in Nigeria. University staff are exposed to specific occupational and lifestyle risk factors that increase their susceptibility to elevated blood pressure. This study assessed the perception, awareness, and lifestyle-related risk factors associated with hypertension among academic and non-academic staff of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 academic and non-academic staff of Delta State University, Abraka, selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise Approach to Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance instrument and informed by the Health Belief Model. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Most respondents (81.5%) had heard of hypertension, but only 26.9% correctly identified normal blood pressure values and 37.0% recognized that hypertension can exist without symptoms. The overall mean perception score was 4.04 out of 5, though 73.2% believed stress alone causes hypertension and 67.6% believed it is curable. Salt intake (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.18-3.77; p = 0.012) and alcohol use (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.05-3.21; p = 0.032) were significant independent predictors of awareness. High occupational stress was reported by 53.7% of respondents and 29.6% had a prior hypertension diagnosis, of whom only 43.8% were on regular medication. Conclusion: While general hypertension awareness was reasonably high among DELSU staff, specific knowledge gaps and prevalent lifestyle risk factors remained a concern. Targeted workplace health education, routine blood pressure screening, and institutional wellness programmes are recommended to reduce the burden of hypertension among university staff in Delta State, Nigeria.