Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension is increasing in the tribal population of India. Lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and acculturation, are the main reasons for the high prevalence of hypertension among the Indian indigenous (tribal) population. This paper reports hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and risk factors among tribes in five districts of different geographical zones of India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult tribal population of 7590 from these states. Data related to blood pressure, anthropometry, demographic and behavioural variables were collected with prior consent from the participants. The prevalence of hypertension is 34.0% and 28.3% among men and women, respectively. Of the total hypertensives, 27.5% were aware of their hypertension status; of them, 83.9% were receiving treatment, and blood pressure was in control among 33.5% of patients who were receiving treatment. Age, alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups status and body mass index are found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is high among these tribal populations, which could be due to modernization and acculturation. Awareness and treatment-seeking behaviour are poor. Hence, early screening, awareness campaigns for seeking treatment, and health promotion are immediately required. Comprehensive health promotion programs need to promote lifestyle modification and re-orientation of the primary health care system to improve availability and accessibility to hypertension screening and treatment.