RISK FACTORS FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENTS: A SCHOOL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

 Objective: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) in recent times have attained a magnitude of epidemic proportion, with increasing number ofadolescence being reported as obese. The risk factors for NCD such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, dietary habits, etc. are inculcated duringadolescence and continue to exist in adult life there by increasing the risk for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. To assess theprevalence of risk factors for NCD among adolescents of a high school in rural Karnataka.Methods: In a school-based cross-sectional study 297 adolescents belonging to classes 8, 9 and 10 were assessed for the presence of risk factorsfor NCD using pretested questionnaire modified from NCD Risk Factor Survey Questionnaire, WHO-STEPS Questionnaire and Integrated DiseaseSurveillance Project Questionnaire.Results: The participants were aged between 12 and 17 years; mean age of the participants being 14.3 years. More than half (n=158, 53.2%) of theparticipants were boys, and a higher proportion (n=119, 40%) belonged to low socio-economic status class 5 according to B.G Prasad Scale. Based onInternational Physical Activity Questionnaire scoring protocol, 30.3% (n=90) participants were minimally active. The family history of hypertensionand diabetes was seen among 55 (18.5%) and 28 (9.5%) of the participants respectively. Based on CDC 2000 standards 7 (2.4%) of the participantswere overweight. The proportion of participants who were classified as having prehypertension, Stage I and Stage II hypertension was 20 (6.7%),16 (5.4%) and 1 (0.3%) respectively. Inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables was seen in 235 (80.1%) and inappropriate dietary intake (fried foods,salted items more than 3 times/week) was seen in 166 (55.9%) of the participants.Conclusion: Several risk factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable are prevalent among the adolescents. Early detection of the risk factors andtimely interventions are essential to reduce the burden of NCDs in future. Simple measures such as health education, nutritional education, andlifestyle modifications could go a long way in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with NCD.Keywords: Adolescents, Non-communicable diseases, Risk factors, South India

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