A community-based study on risk factor profile for non-communicable diseases in rural field practice area of medical college, Kolkata

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are emerging as the leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life-year loss in India, accounting for over 42% of all deaths. The leading risk factors for NCDs are tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, raised blood pressure (BP), obesity, and an unhealthy diet including high salt intake. Regular studies in these domains are required to plan and implement preventive strategies. Aims and Objectives: (1) To explore the prevalence of different risk factors for NCDs among adults residing in rural field practice areas of Medical College, Kolkata. (2) To find the relation (if any) between sociodemographic profile and risk factors among the study population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 adults selected by a simple random sampling method in December 2022 and January 2023 in a rural area of West Bengal using a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured interview schedule based on the World Health Organization steps approach. Analysis was done by SPSS, version 20, and ethical approval was taken. Results: The mean age was 34.01 years (SD ± 11.18). Among male study participants, 50% used smoking tobacco, 22.22% used non-smoking tobacco (multiple responses present), and 24.07% took alcohol in the past month. Tobacco and alcohol intake was significantly lower among female participants. Abdominal obesity was higher in men (31.48%). 16.2% of participants always added extra salt to their diet. Physical inactivity was more common in females (35.10%). Among study participants who checked BP (72.3%), 21.49% had high BP, and those who checked blood sugar levels (54.1%), 25% had a high blood sugar level. Conclusion: The majority of the participants had more than one NCD risk factor. The results highlight the need for interventions and approaches for the prevention of risk factors for NCDs in rural areas.