Abstract

Socioeconomic status has been reported to affect the blood pressure of adults in Nigeria. However, it is yet to be confirmed if it also affects the blood pressure of Nigerian children. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of parental socioeconomic status on the cardiovascular parameters of primary school pupils in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The weight, height, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate of 1026 primary school pupils in Ile-Ife, Nigeria were measured. The body mass index, rate pressure product and ponderosity index were later calculated. An adapted structured questionnaire which assessed the socioeconomic status of the subjects’ parents was administered. The ages of the subjects ranged between 6 and 14 years. The subjects were subsequently classified into three socioeconomic groups (low, middle and upper). The results showed no significant relationship between parental socioeconomic status and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.025, p < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.032, p < 0.05) and heart rate (r =0.018, p < 0.05). The 95 percentile th blood pressure was found to be 130/91 mmHg. It was concluded that parental socioeconomic status has no significant effect on the cardiovascular parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, rate pressure product and pulse pressure) of primary school pupils in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Key words: Parental socioeconomic status, cardiovascular parameters, school pupils, blood pressure