Sociocultural Factors in the Epidemiology of Zulu Hypertension

Abstract

Urban Zulu were found to have significantly higher mean blood pressure than rural Zulu. A number of social variables were examined in relation to elevated blood pressure within each community. Statistically significant relations were found between hypertension and age, sex, obesity, menopause, marital status and church attendance in the rural community, and age, sex, obesity, marital status, sorcery, church membership, family type, income, length of residence, and clinic attendance in the urban community. In the light of the observed relationships the question of stress as an etiologic factor in hypertension was discussed. Whether or not a variable was observed to be stressful was dependent upon the social context in which it arose. There was a relationship between variables observed to be stressful and hypertension. In the urban community, the variables related to hypertension showed a definite pattern indicating that the individuals most likely to be hypertensive were those who maintained traditional cultural practices and who were thus unable to adapt successfully to the demands of urban living.