KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEIVED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AMONG AUTO-MECHANICS AND ALLIED PROFESSIONALS IN BODIJA COMMUNITY OF IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem with adverse outcomes of kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The level of exposure to heavy metals including lead from petrol leaded battery, radiator, spray paints and soldering wires increases the risk of developing CKDs among auto-mechanics and allied professionals. There is a dearth of literature on the knowledge of risk factors and preventive measures against chronic kidney diseases among this population as most of the studies conducted in this regard were Hospital-based and was also among health care workers. This study was therefore designed to investigate the knowledge and perceived susceptibility to chronic kidney disease among auto mechanics and allied professionals in Bodija community of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State. This study was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study, in which a purposive sampling technique was used for the recruitment and selection of the accredited auto mechanics and allied professionals while snowballing was used for the recruitment and selection of the non-accredited ones within the community. Pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to two hundred and nine respondents. Knowledge, perceived susceptibility and preventive practices were measured on a 32-point,14-point and 24–point scales respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test at 5% level of significance. The age of the respondent ranges from 20 to above 60, with the highest age range being 40-49 years old making up of 32.1% of the respondents and more than half (52.2%) of the respondents had secondary school as their highest level of education. The mean knowledge score was 12.9±6.4, most (71.3%) of the respondents had poor knowledge, 82.3% of the respondents stated that herbal supplements could be effective in treating chronic kidney disease and only 34.4% mentioned high blood pressure as a cause of chronic kidney disease. The mean perceived susceptibility score was 5.2±3.1 and most (73.2%) of the respondents had negative perceived susceptibility to chronic kidney disease. Many (74.6%) of the respondents agreed that long term exposure to car batteries, gasoline cannot make them haveCKDs and few 1.9% wore gloves and nose masks while using lead-containing materials or substances. Respondents had a mean practice score of 6.8±2.6 and almost all (98.1%) of the respondents had poor practice. There was a significant difference between the respondents perceived susceptibility to chronic kidney disease and preventive measures of chronic kidney disease (p=0.001). Most of the respondents had poor knowledge about chronic kidney disease and most of the respondents had negative perceived susceptibility and poor preventive practice towards chronic kidney disease. A concerted effort should be made by healthcare professional to improve the knowledge on CKDs by providing health promotion and education, which would therefore lead to a change in attitude and behaviour thereby reducing the risk factors of chronic kidney disease and ultimately reducing the burden of chronic kidney disease