Asian Pacifc Journal of Health Sciences | Vol. 5 | Issue 1 | January-March | 2018 Page | 53 Survey, the knowledge and awareness of the diagnosis as well as of the risk associated with uncontrolled HTN tend to enhance patients’ adherence to lifestyle modifications and to medications. [3,6] Although most hypertensive patients in the U.S. are aware of their HTN, [7] in developing countries like Nigeria rates of HTN awareness are still far from optimal. Awareness of HTN approached 73% among the United States adult population while in Nigeria only about 30% of persons with the condition were aware of it at the time of diagnosis. [8] Another study showed that only 29.4% of the participants screened were aware that they were hypertensive before the screening. [4] For the purposes of this study, HTN awareness is defined as a self-report of being diagnosed by a care provider as having HTN. [9] Improving HTN awareness is a critical first step to reducing morbidity and mortality from HTN among adults, yet the factors associated with HTN awareness in Nigeria are poorly understood. Unawareness or under-awareness of HTN may be attributed to the lack of routine BP screenings and the absence of HTN -related INTRODUCTION High blood pressure (BP) is the leading risk factor for mortality worldwide and approximately 80% of all cardiovascular deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. [1] Hypertension (HTN) is now being widely reported in Africa, and it is a major factor in the high mortality of adults in sub-Saharan Africa. A recent community-based study of rural and semi-urban population in Enugu, Nigeria, put the prevalence of HTN in Nigeria at 32.8%. [2] Unfortunately, HTN is often unnoticed and undiagnosed because it is usually asymptomatic. Despite the high burden of HTN, most affected persons are not aware of its presence, thus increasing the occurrence of associated complications. [3] Among those with HTN, treatment is infrequent and inadequate. [4] Awareness of the diagnosis of HTN is an important determinant of treatment and medication adherence. [5] Awareness of HTN is high in developed countries compared to developing nations. For example, in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination ABSTRACT Background: Despite the high burden of hypertension (HTN), most affected persons are not aware of its presence. This study was aimed at determining the awareness status about HTN and the risk factors associated with uncontrolled HTN among adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in six local government areas in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Random sampling method was used to select participants and data collection was by researcher administered questionnaire. Blood pressure (BP) was measured on three occasions using standard methods (WHO criteria BP <140/90 considered normal and ≥140/90 as high). Anthropometric indices of height and weight were assessed to determine body mass index. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and student t-test at P ≤ 0.05. Result: A total of 1590 respondents (20–70 years) with mean age 43.9 ± 16.4 years participated in the study. Participants diagnosed as hypertensive were 524 and HTN prevalence was 33.0%. Among the hypertensive, 214 (40.8%) were aware of their HTN status. Awareness was higher in females 163 (31.1%) than males 51 (9.7%), increased with age and decreased with higher educational status. Although 40 (7.6%) of hypertensive participants were on antihypertensive medications 27 (67.5%) had uncontrolled BP. uncontrolled BP was found to be high (37%) among participants that take alcohol and it was associated with overweight and obesity in 37% and 18.5% of the participants, respectively. Conclusion: HTN awareness was low in the study area. Uncontrolled HTN was associated with risk factors of HTN and lifestyle and was more prominent in the female gender. Key words: Awareness, blood pressure, body mass index, uncontrolled hypertension Awareness of hypertension and factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension among nigerian adults; a community-based study F. E. Omotoye*, R. A. Sanusi Department Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Address for correspondence: F. E. Omotoye, Department Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: funmiomotoye2013@gmail.com Received: 20-12-2017; Revised: 05-01-2018; Accepted: 29-1-2018 ORIGINAL ARTICLE e-ISSN: 2349-0659 p-ISSN: 2350-0964 doi: 10.21276/apjhs.2018.5.1.1