Risk factors and health-seeking behaviours in non-communicable diseases among a community sample of women

Abstract

: The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) had increased tremendously, causing increased morbidity, mortality and disability among population. Cardiovascular diseases remain as a major NCD affecting public health, accounting for 23% and 30% of the total mortality in rural and urban population, respectively, in India. Health-seeking behavior of women is an important factor in tackling NCDs as it can influence the health of the family, through influencing lifestyle and related changes in preventing NCDs.: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 100 women were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using questionnaires to collect demographic information, NCD risk factors, and a rating scale for assessing the health-seeking behaviors.Forty-seven percent of the participants were diabetic, 45 had hypertension and 28 of them were having dyslipidaemia. Forty-six of them had a family history of NCDs, 68 of them performed regular exercises, such as walking, 56 of them followed a mixed diet, and 63 had a preference to sweets, and 40 percent had a habit of dining out on a regular basis. A majority of the participants followed medicines and the prescribed treatment regimen directed by their physician. Only fifty percent of them engaged in leisure time activities during their free time and very few participants practiced methods like yoga, or meditation.: The participants had risk factors contributing to NCDs, and in general, were practicing good health-seeking behaviors. However, targeting on modifiable risk factors, continuously maintaining health determinants to continuous quality of life improvement is essential to curtail the further deterioration and complication of NCDs.