Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Non-Communicable Diseases among Students and Staff at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education in Tanzania
Corresponding Author(s) : Stephen Maluka
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
##issue.vol## 11 ##issue.no## 2, (2022)
##article.abstract##
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are among the major public health problems facing the world today. Despite contributing to over half of all deaths worldwide, and being a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries, NCDs have received less attention. In Tanzania, studies focusing on the assessment of comprehensive knowledge of NCDs are lacking. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) community on selected NCDs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices on selected NCDs. The study involved both students and staff at the DUCE. A descriptive analysis was adopted for the quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires. The study findings show that the general knowledge of the DUCE community about some selected NCDs was generally high. However, there was a very low level of knowledge about risk factors, early symptoms and preventive measures. Regarding risk factors, a very small proportion of students (1.6%) and staff (3.1%) consumed tobacco products. Only 75 (13.1%) of students and 70 (36.5%) of staff consumed alcohol. The intake of fruits and vegetables among the community was insufficient. About 493 (86%) of the students and 135 (70.3%) of the staff added salt or salty sauce to their meals. As for physical activities, 234 (40.8%) of the students and 99 (51.6%) of the staff reported that they ran or participated in games and sports for at least one day in a week. The study concludes that while generally there is a high level of knowledge about NCDs, there is a very low level of knowledge about risk factors, early symptoms and preventive measures. The study underlines the need to increase the awareness of the DUCE population on risk factors associated with NCDs, early signs and preventive measures that people should take to prevent NCDs in the future.
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Abdul-Razak, S., A. M. Daher, A. S. Ramli, F. Ariffin, M. Y. Mazapuspavina, K. S. Ambigga, M. Miskan, H. Abdul-Hamid, N. Mat-Nasir & M. N. K. nor-Ashikin. 2016. Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, Control and Socio Demographic Determinants of Hypertension in Malaysian Adults. BMC Public Health, 16(1): 351.
Alwan, A., D. R. Maclean, L. M. Riley, E. T. D’espaignet, C. D. Mathers, G. A. Stevens & D. Bettcher. 2010. Monitoring and Surveillance of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases: Progress and Capacity in High-burden Countries. The Lancet, 376: 1861–1868.
Daniel, W.W. & C.L. Cross. 2013. Biostatistics: A Foundation for Analysis in Health Sciences. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Demaio, A.R., O. Dugee, G. Amgalan, E. Maximenco, A. Munkhtaivan, S. Graeser, T. Kryger, J. Oyunbileg, P. Jousilahti, M. De Courten & P. Enkhtuya. 2011. Protocol for a National, Mixed Methods Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey on Non-communicable Diseases. BMC Public Health, 11: 961.
Ibrahim, M. M., N. A. A. Rahman, N. I. A. Rahman & M. Haque. 2016. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Malaysian Public University Students on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 6(2): 056–063.
Ithnin, M, A.U.M.N. Nadeeya, N.M. Juliana, M.A. Effendy, K.H. A. Sahar, M.S.M. Abdullah & M.D.M. Rani. 2018. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among the Adult Population in the Urban Area of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9 (SPL 2): 88–94.
Ithnin, M., A.U.M.N. Nadeeya, J. Norsham, M.E. Nadia, A.S. Mohd, H. Khadijah, A. Abang, S. Muhammad, A. Mohd, D. Mohd & R. Mohd. 2020. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs): A Cross-Sectional Survey among Urban and Rural Adults in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. Doi: 10.1080/14635240.2020.1749526.
Kileo, M.S. 2016. Predictors of Substance Use Among Undergraduate University Students: A Cross Sectional Study, Dodoma Municipality Tanzania. Dodoma: University of Dodoma.
Mayige M, K. G., K. Ramaiya & A. Swai. 2012. Non-communicable Diseases in Tanzania: A Call for Urgent Action. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 14 (2).
Mbatia, J., R. Jenkins, N. Singleton & B. White. 2009. Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption and Hazardous Drinking, Tobacco and Drug Use in Urban Tanzania, and Their Associated Risk Factors. International Journal of Environ Res Public Health, 6(7): 1991–2006.
Ministry of Health (MoH). 2012. STEPS Survey of NCD Risk Factors. Dar es Salaam Tanzania: Ministry of Health Community Development Gender Elderly and Children.
Muthukrishnan, G., Kingston C., Ravikumar A. 2018. A Cross Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice on Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk Factors among Anganwadi Workers of Cuddalore District. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(6): 2406–2410.
Mwimo, J.L., S. Somoka, B.J. Leyaro, C. Amour, E. Mao & I.B. Mboya 2021. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Physical Activity among Patients with Diabetes in Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. BMJ Open.11: e046841.
Ngaruiya, C., R, Bernstein, R, Left, L, Wallace, P, Agrawal, A, Selvam, D, Hersey & A. Hayward. 2022. Systematic Review on Non-communicable Disease in Disaster Settings. BMC Public Health, 22: 1234.
World Health Organisation (WHO). 2008. The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. 2011. Non-Communicable Diseases Fact Sheet. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. 2014. Global Nutrition Targets 2025: Policy Brief Series (WHO/NMH/NHD/14.2). Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. 2018a. Non-communicable Diseases Country Profiles 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
WHO. 2018b. Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030: More Active People for a Healthier World. Geneva: World Health Organization; Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Zahorka, M. & D. Stevenson. 2016. Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Behaviour: Non-Communicable Diseases, Child Health and Citizens’ Right to Health in Kosovo. Basel: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.