RESUMEN
Objective: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of risk factors (tobacco use, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet) of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among secondary school students in a developing country. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study using the self-administered WHO STEP-wise questionnaire for chronic disease risk factor surveillance on adolescents attending secondary schools in Kenya. The study was carried out in the period between May and July 2018. Setting: Ten secondary schools were randomly selected in Uasin Gishu County, using stratified proportional sampling. Subjects: A total of 1,281 students assented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants was 16.6 (SD±1.509) with the majority being female (55%, n=704) Results: The prevalence of alcohol abuse was 30.8%(n=394) with males having statistically significant higher rates than females (p < 0.05) and 6.8% of the participants were smokers. Of those that reported smoking, 60.9% were between 15-17 years of age. Adequate intake of three (3) servings of vegetables per day was seen in 13.5% of the respondents and 54.4% (n=697) of the total sample were found to be physically inactive. Conclusion: The prevalence of NCD risk factors among secondary school students in Uasin Gishu County is significant. As a result, health education and targeted interventions should be implemented in order to promote a healthy lifestyle which is important in preventing NCDs in future.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Enfermedades Transmisibles , Alcoholismo , Uso de TabacoRESUMEN
Introduction: Exposure to risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) begins early especially during adolescence while morbidity and mortality occurs mainly in adulthood. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge of major NCDs (cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes) and risk factors among adolescents in a semi-urban setting. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used to collect data. The study targeted students attending mixed secondary schools in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. An adapted knowledge assessment questionnaire relating to chronic diseases of lifestyle was used for data collection. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: A total of 1,281 students participated in the study. The results revealed that most of the participants (62.1%) had low levels of knowledge about NCD risk factors. Very few students in the present study recognized the role of family history and genetic predisposition as potential risk factors of hypertension (18%) and diabetes (24.7%) as well as the normal blood pressure (35.9%) and blood glucose levels (20.5%). Although most of the students identified alcohol and smoking as risk factors for cancer, half (51.6%) of them did not have the knowledge that regular physical activity reduces the risk of getting cancer. Conclusion: Many of the adolescents in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya had low level of knowledge regarding NCDs and their risk factors. The findings of this study highlight the need for a school-based intervention programme to raise awareness of non-communicable disease risk factors among adolescents.