Knowledge, risk factors and preventive strategies of Hypertension among Babcock University students in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Aim Hypertension is the most common, modifiable, non-communicable disease in the world and the leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. This research assessed the knowledge, risk factors and preventive strategies of hypertension among Babcock University students. Method A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 384 students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Findings from this study reveal that majority (87.5%) were within the age range of 18–25, (91.7%) had a high level of knowledge of hypertension. Major identified risk factors included family history (71.6%), lack of exercise (70.3%), smoking (69.8%), being overweight (67.2%), and alcohol consumption (63.3%). While respondents recognized preventive measures such as regular exercise (84.4%), reducing alcohol (79.7%) and salt intake (79.2%), actual adherence to these practices was inconsistent, and only 6.5% were hypertensive. A significant gender-based difference in knowledge was observed (p = 0.006