THE PREVALENCE OF OBESITY AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG CHILDREN IN A VULNERABLE GROUP

Abstract

Introduction: The vulnerability means being less resistant to health and social problems than other individuals in society due to social inequalities. It has been reported in the literature that vulnerability leads to various health problems in children. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure in children in a low socioeconomic neighborhood. Methods: The population of this descriptive study consisted of 0-12 aged children living in a low socioeconomic neighborhood in a city center. The sample of the study consisted of 452 children reached between March 04 and May 24, 2024. A descriptive characteristics form prepared by the researchers based on the literature was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using number, percentage, mean, median, standard deviation tests in computer environment. Ethics committee permission, permission of the Governorate and informed consent from the participants were obtained before the study was started. Results: In the study, 14.8% of children aged 6-12 years were obese, 20% had systolic and 19.5% had diastolic blood pressure above the 95th percentile. In the study, 17.3% of children aged 3-5 years were overweight, 9.9% had systolic and 17.3% had diastolic blood pressure above the 95th percentile. Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that one in every five children between the ages of 6-12 years and one in every ten children between the ages of 3-5 years had higher than normal blood pressure, and one in every three children between the ages of 6-12 years was overweight or obese. In line with these results, it is recommended to plan prospective studies for the prevention, control and follow-up of high blood pressure and obesity in children in vulnerable groups.

Keywords

• Public health nursing
• Health screening
• Vulnerability

Project Number

1919B012300024

Savunmasız Bir Grupta Çocuklarda Obezite ve Yüksek Kan Basıncı Sıklığı

Abstract

Giriş: Savunmasızlık; toplumsal eşitsizlikler nedeniyle sağlık problemleri ve sosyal sorunlara karşı, toplumdaki diğer bireylerden daha dayanıksız olmak anlamına gelir. Literatürde savunmasızlığın çocuklarda çeşitli sağlık sorunlarına yol açtığı bildirilmiştir. Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı; sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük bir mahalledeki çocuklarda obezite ve yüksek kan basıncı prevalansının belirlenmesidir. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipteki araştırmanın evrenini, il merkezinde yer alan sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük bir mahallede yaşayan 0-12 yaş arası çocuklar oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın örneklemi, 04 Mart-24 Mayıs 2024 tarihleri arasında ulaşılan 452 çocuk oluşturmuştur. Verilerin toplanmasında araştırmacılar tarafından literatürden yararlanılarak hazırlanan tanıtıcı özellikler formu kullanılmıştır. Veriler, bilgisayar ortamında sayı, yüzde, ortalama, ortanca, standart sapma testleri kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmaya başlanmadan önce etik kurul izni, Valilik izni ve bilgilendirilmiş onam alınmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmada 6-12 yaş arası çocukların %14.8’i obez olup %20’sinin sistolik, %19.5’inin de diastolik kan basıncı 95. persantilin üzerindedir. Araştırmada 3-5 yaş arası çocukların %17.3’ünün boya göre vücut ağırlığı fazla olup %9.9’unun sistolik kan basıncı, %17.3’ünün de diastolik kan basıncı 95. persantilin üzerindedir. Sonuç: Araştırmada 6-12 yaş arasında her beş çocuktan birinin, 3-5 yaş arasında da yaklaşık her on çocuktan birinin kan basıncının normalden yüksek olduğu; ayrıca 6-12 yaş arasında ise her üç çocuktan birinin fazla kilolu ya da obez olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda; savunmasız gruplardaki çocuklarda yüksek kan basıncı ve obezitenin önlenmesi, kontrolü ve izlemine yönelik ileriye dönük çalışmaların planlanması önerilir.

Keywords

• Halk sağlığı hemşireliği
• Sağlık taraması
• Savunmasızlık

Supporting Institution

Araştırma, TÜBİTAK 2209-A Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı kapsamında (Proje No: 1919B012300024) 2023 yılı 1. dönemde desteklenmiştir.

Project Number

1919B012300024

Ethical Statement

Araştırmaya başlanmadan önce Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Etik Kurulu’ndan etik kurul izni (Tarih: 06/02/2024, Karar no: 2024-04/11) alınmıştır.

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