The Relationship Between Dietary Patterns And Smoking Habits And The Incidence Of Hypertension In The Coastal Area Of The Pasar Ikan Public Health Center, Bengkulu City

Abstract

Hypertension is a major non-communicable disease concern in coastal communities because high-sodium dietary practices and smoking may increase the risk of elevated blood pressure. Hypertension cases at Pasar Ikan Public Health Center increased from 2,307 cases in 2023 and 2024 to 2,347 cases in 2025. Objective: To analyze the relationship between dietary patterns, smoking habits, and the incidence of hypertension in the coastal area served by Pasar Ikan Public Health Center, Bengkulu City. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved 94 respondents selected by simple random sampling. Dietary patterns were assessed using a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire, smoking habits through a questionnaire, and hypertension through blood-pressure measurement; data were analyzed using frequency distributions and the Chi-Square test at α=0.05. Forty-eight respondents (51.1%) had unhealthy dietary patterns, 45 (47.9%) were non-smokers, and 62 (66.0%) had hypertension. Dietary pattern was significantly associated with hypertension (χ²=6.467; p=0.011), as was smoking habit (χ²=9.731; p=0.008). Dietary patterns and smoking habits were significantly related to hypertension, supporting stronger low-salt dietary education, smoking cessation, and routine blood-pressure screening in coastal communities.