Analysing the socioeconomic determinants of hypertension in South Africa: a structural equation modelling approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epidemiological research has long observed a varying prevalence of hypertension across socioeconomic strata. However, patterns of association and underlying causal mechanisms are poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa. Using education and income as indicators, we investigated the extent to which socioeconomic status is linked to blood pressure in the first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study--a South African longitudinal study of more than 15,000 adults--and whether bio-behavioural risk factors mediate the association.

Methods

In a cross-sectional analysis, structural equation modelling was employed to estimate the effect of socioeconomic status on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and to assess the role of a set of bio-behavioural risk factors in expl

SUBMITTER: Cois A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4021547 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature