Prevalence of Hypertension in the Workplace in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Case Study of the Administrative Building (BATAM) at the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS)

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, yet workplace-specific data in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among workers at the Administrative Building (BATAM) of the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to October 31, 2023, among 201 permanent workers. Participants were recruited via systematic random sampling (every 3rd employee from a roster of 603 eligible workers). Blood pressure was measured three times using a validated SCIAN LD-520 device, following WHO protocols. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, or current antihypertensive use. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 38.8%. Significant predictors included age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.08 - 1.17), male gender (aOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.18 - 5.08), physical inactivity (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.48 - 4.82), and obesity (aOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.89 - 5.45). Conclusion: Hypertension is highly prevalent among BATAM workers, necessitating urgent workplace interventions such as annual screenings and health promotion programs.