Household Air Pollution and Prevalence of Hypertension Among Male Adults in a Riparian Community along The Lower Volta Lake

Abstract

Household air pollution (HAP) is a significant public health issue globally, with its effects often studied in women and children, leaving gaps in research on adult males. This study investigates the association between exposure to household air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and carbon monoxide (CO), and hypertension among adult males in Kpong, Ghana. A cross-sectional study involving 110 participants was conducted, measuring pollutant levels and blood pressure. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between pollutant exposure and hypertension, while one-way ANOVA and t-tests assessed differences in exposure based on demographic and lifestyle factors. Results indicated that mean PM2.5 and CO levels exceeded recommended thresholds, with CO exposure showing a significant association with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) and hypertension risk. Conversely, PM2.5 exhibited weak or negligible correlations with blood pressure outcomes. Smoking was identified as a significant contributor to elevated CO exposure among participants. These findings underscore the critical need for policies to reduce HAP and promote clean air initiatives, particularly targeting CO exposure to mitigate hypertension and related health burdens in riparian communities.