abstract: 'Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the Kingdom of

  Bhutan, and early detection of hypertension is critical for preventing

  cardiovascular disease. However, health-seeking behavior, including

  blood pressure measurement, is infrequently investigated in Bhutan.

  Therefore, this study investigated factors related to blood pressure

  measurement in Bhutan. We performed a secondary data analysis of a

  target population of 1,962 individuals using data from the ``2014 Bhutan

  STEPS survey data{''''}as a cross-sectional study. Approximately 26\% of

  those with hypertension who were detected during the STEPS survey had

  never had their blood pressure measured. Previous blood pressure

  measurement was significantly associated with age and working status in

  men (self-employed {[}odds ratio (OR): 0.219, 95\% CI: 0.133-0.361],

  non-working {[}OR: 0.114, 95\% CI: 0.050-0.263], employee {[}OR:

  1.000]). Previous blood pressure measurement was significantly

  associated with higher income in women (Quartile-2 {[}OR: 1.984, 95\%

  CI: 1.209-3.255], Quartile-1 {[}OR: 2.161, 95\% CI: 1.415-3.299],

  Quartile-4 {[}OR: 1.000]). A family history of hypertension (OR: 2.019,

  95\% CI: 1.549-2.243) increased the likelihood of having experienced a

  blood pressure measurement in both men and women. Multivariate logistic

  regression showed that people with unhealthy lifestyles (high salt

  intake {[}adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.247, 95\% confidence interval

  (CI): 0.068-0.893], tobacco use {[}AOR: 0.538, 95\% CI: 0.380-0.761])

  had a decreased likelihood of previous blood pressure measurement. To

  promote the early detection of hypertension in Bhutan, we suggest that

  more attention be paid to low-income women, non-working, self-employed,

  and low-income men, and a reduction of barriers to blood pressure

  measurement. Before the STEPS survey, a substantial number of

  hypertensive people had never had their blood pressure measured or were

  unconcerned about their health. As a result, we propose that early blood

  pressure monitoring and treatment for people with hypertension or at

  higher risk of hypertension be given increased emphasis.'
affiliation: 'Imanaka, Y (Corresponding Author), Kyoto Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Healthcare
  Econ \& Qual Management, Kyoto, Japan.

  Segawa, Hiromi Kohori; Uematsu, Hironori; Kunisawa, Susumu; Imanaka, Yuichi, Kyoto
  Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Healthcare Econ \& Qual Management, Kyoto, Japan.

  Segawa, Hiromi Kohori, Kyoto Univ, Kokoro Res Ctr, Kyoto, Japan.

  Dorji, Nidup; Wangdi, Ugyen; Dorjee, Chencho, Khesar Gyalpo Univ Med Sci Bhutan,
  Fac Nursing \& Publ Hlth, Thimphu, Bhutan.

  Yangchen, Pemba, Minist Hlth Bhutan, Noncommunicable Dis Div, Thimphu, Bhutan.

  Sakamoto, Ryota, Kyoto Univ, Ctr Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto, Japan.'
article-number: e0271914
author: Segawa, Hiromi Kohori and Uematsu, Hironori and Dorji, Nidup and Wangdi, Ugyen
  and Dorjee, Chencho and Yangchen, Pemba and Kunisawa, Susumu and Sakamoto, Ryota
  and Imanaka, Yuichi
author-email: imanaka-y@umin.net
author_list:
- family: Segawa
  given: Hiromi Kohori
- family: Uematsu
  given: Hironori
- family: Dorji
  given: Nidup
- family: Wangdi
  given: Ugyen
- family: Dorjee
  given: Chencho
- family: Yangchen
  given: Pemba
- family: Kunisawa
  given: Susumu
- family: Sakamoto
  given: Ryota
- family: Imanaka
  given: Yuichi
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271914
files: []
issn: 1932-6203
journal: PLOS ONE
keywords-plus: HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOR; HYPERTENSION; PREVALENCE; MIDDLE; TESTS; CARE
language: English
month: AUG 17
number: '8'
number-of-cited-references: '50'
orcid-numbers: 'Yuichi, Imanaka/0000-0003-4613-2159

  Dorji, Nidup/0000-0001-6243-0020

  Segawa, Hiromi/0000-0003-4038-1189'
papis_id: ff12ed5519819d51ab6b6fbcc22e23df
ref: Segawa2022socialbehavioral
researcherid-numbers: 'KUNISAWA, Susumu/HCH-1094-2022

  Yuichi, Imanaka/GYR-2098-2022

  '
times-cited: '0'
title: 'Social and behavioral factors related to blood pressure measurement: A cross-sectional
  study in Bhutan'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000847227000018
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '1'
volume: '17'
web-of-science-categories: Multidisciplinary Sciences
year: '2022'