Risk Factors For Non-Communicable Disease Among The Adult Population In The Kassena-Nankana District. A Community-Based Survey

ABSTRACT

A community-based survey of 2018 adults in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper

East Region aged 15-64 years was carried out to assess the prevalence of certain risk factors

of the non-communicable diseases; cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions

and cancers. This survey was conducted in the month of June during the planting season for

the major crops cultivated in the Kassena Nankana district.

Tobacco use among the study population was determined to be 20.9%. Men mostly

smoked cigarettes and hand rolled tobacco, generally initiating this practice between the ages

of 15-30years. The women mostly chewed tobacco leaves and rubbed tobacco powder on

their gums; a habit initiated generally after 35years of age. Alcohol consumption was

relatively high among the study population (55.03%) and was prevalent between both sexes.

Shea fruits were the only local fruits that were frequently consumed. Other local fruits were

consumed by less than 15% of the population surveyed.

The study population was physically active with 90% of the population engaging in

daily vigorous physical exercise for at least an hour.

The prevalence of obesity was evaluated using two indices; body mass index (BMI) and

waist-hip ratio (WHpR). Evaluating the study population BMIs indicated an obesity level of

2.69% whilst a higher figure of 33.9% indicative of high central obesity was derived by the

computation of the WHpR.

A hypertension prevalence of 6.21% and 4.54% was found in the in the study

population using systolic and diastolic cutoffs of 140mmHg and 90mmHg respectively. A

more detailed study that will evaluate serum cholesterol levels and determine the prevalence

of undiagnosed diabetes in the community is needed as its outcome would compliment these

findings.