RISK FACTORS FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN IBADAN

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a global public health problem which threatens Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) including Nigeria, four behavioral and four cardio-metabolic risks factors have been associated with the major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic pulmonary diseases). Civil servants are engaged in a stress related work resulting from change in government and non-payment of salaries, besides the sedentary nature of their work increases the worker's risk of NCDs. There is a poor documentation of information on the behavioural & cardio metabolic risk factor among civil servants in lbadan. Therefore this study investigates the prevalence and risk factors among civil servants in Ibadan using the WHO stepwise approach. A cross-sectional study design was used to select 644 civil servants using a two-stage sampling of twelve out of twenty ministries and cluster sampling was used to select an average of 50 respondent from each. Pre-tested semi structured interviewer- administered questionnaires were used to collect Information on their socio-demographic characteristic, dietary habit, tobacco use and alcohol consumption, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, waist circumference, weight and height measurement. Overweight and obesity was defined as a BMI of 25.0-29.9kg/m2 and ≥30kg/m2 respectively. Diabetes was defined as fasting blood glucose level ≥126mg/dl or being on diabetes medication, abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference >102inches for men and >88 for women, hypertension was described as blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg, unhealthy diet was defined as low intake of vegetables and fruits. Physical inactivity was <600 MET-MIN/DAY, binge drinking was described as ≥5 bottles of alcohol at one sitting for men and ≥4 bottles for women. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at p=0.05. Respondents' mean age was 44±9.57 years and males were 53.7%. Majority were Yorubas (93.3%) and 88% were married, 51.6% were mid-level staff. Prevalence of behaviour and cardio metabolic risk factors were- physical inactivity (66.5%), unhealthy diet (57%), tobacco use (6.2%), harmful use of alcohol (6.5%), hypertension (21.25%), diabetes (8.3%), abdominal obesity (37.1%), overweight (34.7%) and obesity (23.9%). Females had a greater likelihood for abdominal obesity (OR=18.299 CI=7.968-42.025 p=<0.05) and overweight/ obesity (OR= 5.465 Cl=3.492-5.465 p=<0.05) compared to males. Those ≥ 40 three time more at risk of hypertension than those lower (AOR=2.70 CI= 1.38-5.06). Hypertension was the only significant predictor for diabetes mellitus. Respondent that have high BP are five times more at risk of bring diabetic than non-hypertensive respondent(OR=4.465 CI= 1.578-12.632). Non communicable diseases and its risk factors were prevalent among civil servants in Ibadan. Awareness campaigns on the benefits of regular physical exercise, healthy eating and cessation of cigarette smoking should be conducted