TITLE:
Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Teaching Practice on Blood Pressure among Physical Education Teachers and Teachers of Other Subjects in Secondary Schools in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Yvon Rock Ghislain Alongo, Aimé Simplice Christophe Ambeto, Anon Felix N’dia, Simplice Innocent Moussouami, Kiel Itoua Oniangue Assoba, Chelmy Ibata Ondze, Régis Prince Epele, Raoul Ampa
KEYWORDS:
High Blood Pressure, Teaching Practice, Sedentary Lifestyle, Psychological Stress and Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.17 No.11,
November
11,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Hypertension is a major public health problem, exacerbated by sedentary lifestyles and work-related stress. The influence of the subject taught on blood pressure remains understudied in Congo. We compared the blood pressure and resting heart rate of physical education teachers with those of other subjects, and explored the associated occupational factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from May to October 2025 among 1014 teachers (525 physical education teachers; 489 teachers of other disciplines) from public secondary schools in Brazzaville. Sociodemographic and professional characteristics, physical activity, and stress levels were collected via questionnaire. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and resting heart rate were measured according to a standardized protocol. Groups were compared using the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Student’s t-test (threshold of 0.05). Results: Physical education teachers more frequently engaged in physical activity outside of work (59.2% vs. 16.8%), all remained standing for extended periods (100% vs. 54.6%), and less frequently reported common work-related stress (6.9% vs. 72.8%) (p Conclusion: Physical education teachers exhibit more favorable blood pressure values, associated with a more active and less stressful professional profile. The cross-sectional design does not allow for the inference of causality. Promoting physical activity and regular hypertension screening is advisable for all teachers.