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Published:
Jun 30, 2022DOI:
10.4314/jdan.v13i1.3Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Cardiovascular risk factors among private primary school teachers in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State
Ifeoma C. Afiaenyi
Abstract
Background: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors has continued to increase due to changes in dietary practices and increased physical inactivity among the adult population.
Objective: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among private primary school teachers in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed and a multistage sampling technique was used to select 400 respondents used in the study. Questionnaire was used to obtain information on the sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, physical activity level, and lifestyle characteristics of the respondents. Anthropometric indices (body mass index and waist-hip ratio), blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid profile of the respondents were obtained using standard procedures. Data obtained were coded and entered into the computer and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 21. Chi-square was used to determine the relationship existing among variables. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05.
Results: Results showed that the majority (90%) of the respondents were females while a few (9.8) were males. Most (69.5%) of the respondents skipped meals while some (30.5%) did not skip meals. A high prevalence of central obesity (57.0% WC, 47.5% WHR), hypertension (20.0%), impaired plasma glucose (30.0%), diabetes mellitus (2.5%), low HDL-cholesterol (37.5%) and hypertriglycerideamia (15%) was observed among the respondents. Female respondents were significantly (p < 0.05) more centrally obese (60.0% WC, 51.55% WHR) than males (40.0% WC, 28.6% WHR). No significant (p > 0.05) relationship was found between gender and blood pressure, blood glucose level, and lipid profile of the respondents.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was high among the respondents
