By: ANINDITA PAUL, SUBIR BISWAS, INDU BHAUMIK
Hypertension is one of the most dangerous non-communicable diseases due to its multifaceted burdens. Tribals, who are often thought to be protected from hypertension because of their traditions, have been reported to have a high prevalence. This study aims to document lifestyle factors and their effects on hypertension among the Oraons of North 24 Parganas. In addition, it examines variations in hypertension by sex and residential setting. The study was conducted in the North 24 Parganas district (urban zones: Barasat, Birati, and Gobardanga; rural areas: Barasat, Habra, Sanghati, and Machlandapur) between December 2024 and March 2025 among 466 Oraon adults (244 rural and 222 urban) aged 18 to 59 years, selected through stratified random sampling. The study found that urban males (59.25%) and females (21.92%) were more hypertensive compared to their rural counterparts. Among lifestyle factors, tobacco and alcohol consumption were found to be associated with hypertension status. Age was positively correlated with hypertension, especially among rural females (r = 0.404, p < 0.0001), while education was negatively correlated with hypertension (r = -0.122 to -0.289 across groups). Most anthropometric measures, except height, were significantly positively correlated with hypertension.
