Non-communicable disease risk factor profile among Fishermen community of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Owing to growing epidemic of non communicable diseases (NCD), identification of risk factor profile is one of the high-priority actions required in reducing NCDs. Further, fishermen community possesses unique characteristics of a folk society despite the urban environment around it. Since major portion of the life of fishermen is spent at sea with bizarre sleep and eating pattern, their risk profile for non-communicable disease are different from general population. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among fishermen community in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu; to identify the association of the NCD risk factors with socio-demographic and occupational characteristics of the study participants. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among 210 adult male Fishermen community of Kovalam, Kalpakkam and Mahabalipuram, of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu during May to October, 2016 using a semi-structured questionnaire and all the participants were motivated to undergo laboratory investigations. Results: Prevalence of smoking tobacco form, smokeless tobacco use and alcohol use were 17.1%, 22.9% and 61.4% respectively. Mean blood pressure observed in our study was 120.14/77.86 mm Hg. Prevalence of hypertension was 39.05% and 13.3% were having abdominal obesity. Conclusions: NCD risk factors like hypertension, alcohol use was quite high in this fishermen community and it needs further evaluation.