High prevalence of dietary and physical activity related risk factors for non-communicable diseases among apparently healthy urban women in Kochi, Kerala, South India

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONGlobally, women provide the bulk of healthcare; at home and also in formal and informal healthcare setting. Yet women's own needs for healthcare are often poorly recognized and catered for. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the biggest threat to women's health worldwide, mainly affecting the women in developing countries, that too in their most productive years. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes, are the leading cause of morbidity and death for women for at least the past three decades, contributing to two thirds of all cause deaths.2 Though the age specific NCD death rates in women lag behind the rates in men by about 10 years, because of their longer life expectancy, the absolute number of NCD deaths among women (16.2 million) is not much different from that of men (18.4 million). It has also been predicted that in near future the biggest rate of NCD increase will be in women.3 ABSTRACT Background: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the biggest threat to women's health worldwide. NCD is a leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality among women in Kerala. This study attempts to delineate the risk factors of NCDs among apparently healthy urban women in Kochi, Kerala. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among apparently healthy women of age 20-60 years in randomly selected wards of Eloor municipality, Kochi, Kerala. The minimum calculated sample size was 130. Houses were selected by systematic random sampling. A semi structured questionnaire based on the STEPS instrument was administered to eligible subjects. Their anthropometric measurements were also taken using standardised tools. Data were entered into Excel sheet and analysed using SPSS version 15. Results: The mean age of the women surveyed was 38.9 years (SD 10.2). Majority (71%) of the study participants were home makers. Majority (97.2%) consumed less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Of them, 79.3% were in the low physical activity category. Around 55% of the women were either overweight or obese. Conclusions:The current study showed a high burden of risk factors for non-communicable diseases among women in urban area in Kerala. Considering the burden of NCD risk factors in the population, there is urgent need to plan and implement gender sensitive community-based interventions at different levels including health promotion, and prevention.

A study on lifestyle diseases and lifestyle risk factors among known cases in women, urban field practice area Mysuru, Karnataka

“…As a result, such infections may have a significant role in driving individuals and their families into poverty. 5…”