Prevalence of Hypertension Among Civil Servants in Abuja Federal Ministries

Hypertension is a leading non-communicable disease burden in Nigeria, and the occupational environment of sedentary office work combined with psychosocial stressors creates a particularly high-risk profile for civil servants. This study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension among civil servants in selected federal ministries in Abuja, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, with 220 civil servants selected through stratified random sampling. Blood pressure was measured using a standardized digital sphygmomanometer following Joint National Committee guidelines, and a structured questionnaire assessed lifestyle factors, occupational stressors, and health-seeking behaviors. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 40.9 percent, with pre-hypertension identified in an additional 27.3 percent of respondents. Risk factors significantly associated with hypertension included age above 40 years, male sex, overweight status, physical inactivity, and high occupational stress scores. Only 52.2 percent of hypertensives were aware of their condition, and treatment adherence among those on medication was 61.4 percent. The study highlights a significant hypertension burden within the federal civil service and recommends the institutionalization of workplace blood pressure screening, occupational stress management programs, dietary and physical activity counseling, and integration of cardiovascular health into the routine occupational health assessment frameworks for Nigerian civil servants. Keywords: hypertension, civil servants, occupational stress, non-communicable disease, Abuja.