INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS ON CASUAL BLOOD PRESSURES OF NIGERIAN SCHOOL-CHILDREN

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of parental socioeconomic status on blood pressures of Nigerian school children. The weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate of 807 school children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria were measured. The subjects' ages ranged between 8 and 20 years. The subjects were classified into three (lower, middle and upper) groups based on the socioeconomic status of their parents. The findings revealed that parental socioeconomic status has no effect on the systolic and diastolic pressure, heart rate, rate pressure product and pulse pressure of Nigerian children. We found the 95th centile blood pressure to be 133 92 mm Hg. If the 95th centile is considered the diagnostic criteria for hypertension, then Nigerian children with sustained blood pressure in excess of 133 92 mm Hg should be investigated. © 1990.