Cross-Sectional Distribution of Hypertension Awareness Rate Among Adults Aged 15 To 49 Years in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Hypertension remains a major public health issue in Kenya, with awareness levels varying widely across populations, underscoring the need to understand its sociodemographic and geographic determinants. We aimed at examinining the cross-sectional distribution of hypertension awareness at the national and subnational levels, disaggregated by sex and age group. Methods: We analyzed data from 30,570 respondents aged 15 to 49 years from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey. Hypertension awareness was examined nationally and subnationally, disaggregated by sex and age group. Regional patterns were explored, and a log-binomial regression model was used to assess the relative contributions of age, sex, and region to awareness. Results: Awareness was higher among females (8.6%) than males (3.0%) across most counties. Males showed persistently low awareness across all ages, while awareness increased with age, especially among females aged 25 to 49. County di erences were notable: Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta, Laikipia, araka-Nithi, and Kajiado had the highest female awareness, whereas Mandera, West Pokot, and Garissa showed low awareness in both sexes. Regression results indicated age had the strongest e ect, followed by sex and region. Conclusions: Hypertension awareness in Kenya is shaped by intersecting e ects of age, sex, and region. Women consistently demonstrate higher awareness than men, while younger populations and males remain underserved. Substantial regional disparities highlight systemic gaps in service delivery and outreach. ese ndings underscore the need for gender-sensi-tive, age-speci c, and regionally tailored strategies to strengthen hypertension detection and control. Key words: Hypertension awareness, Gender disparities, Age gradient, Regional heterogeneity, Health-seeking behavior List of abbreviations KDHS: Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys; CVDs: Cardiovascular Diseases; RR: Relative Risk; NCDs: Noncommunicable Diseases; CI: Con dence Interval.