Microwave Oven and its Associated Health Concerns: Views of Medical Students

Abstract

The use of microwave ovens has always been shadowed by serious controversy, inspite of its usefulness. Serious health issues have been associated with the microwave, but few people are aware of their real potential dangers. Medical students are potential counselor and health educators. The study aims at ascertaining the views of medical students on microwave oven and associated health concerns. The objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students towards the use of microwave oven and its associated health concerns. This is a cross sectional survey. A total of 250 self administered pretested questionnaires were distributed with a response rate of 96.8%. Predominantly 98.3% and 85.5% were single and Christians respectively with an age range of 16 to 39 years and a mean of 21.2 years, SD±3.5years. All the respondents (100%) were aware and 78.8% had easy access to the device. Up to 84.9% knew that exposure to microwave radiation was harmful to the health, but only 49.8%, 43.0% and 53.2% knew that the microwave oven worked by the emission of microwave radiation, could not cook foods evenly, and could interfere with a heart pace maker respectively. The overall knowledge was poor with a statistically significant association between knowledge and level of study. The overall attitude was good as 88.1% believed that children should be kept away from the microwave oven and 57.9% that food may be pre-packed in materials not suitable for use in the microwave oven. Practice was generally poor as 62.6% n=169 and 48.9% n=109 would microwave food in metallic and glass containers and 51.4% (n=110) never wore protective mittens. The overall knowledge was poor with a statistically significant association between knowledge and academic year level of study. However the good attitude among these respondents did not translate to good practice.

Key Words: Microwave Oven, Medical Students, Knowledge, Attitude Practice