Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Screening for Some Indices ofNon-Communicable Diseases among Women of Child Bearing AgeSeen at An Urban Setting in South-South Nigeria.

Abstract

The role of screening for prompt detection of cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which constitute heavy economic
and psychosocial burden on individuals, families and the society globally cannot be overemphasized. This study was done
to identify socio-demographic variables that influenced routine voluntary screening for some indices of NCDs (blood
pressure, blood glucose and lipid profile) among women of child bearing age seen at a secondary health care facility in an
urban setting in south-south Nigeria. This was a facility based cross-sectional descriptive study done at the general
outpatient clinics (GOPCs) of General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, among 168 women of
child bearing age. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge
and awareness of the studied indices and routine voluntary screening practices for the indices. The study lasted between
January and March 2020. The ages of the respondents ranged from 20-49 years with mean and standard deviation of 31.76+
10.60 years. Results showed that out of 168 respondents, greater percentage 86(51.19%) belonged to middle reproductive age
(30-39 years). Almost half of the women 80(47.62%) had tertiary education while majority of them belonged to lower income
group (<$241). While almost all of them, 161(95.83%) and 155(92.26%) were aware of blood pressure and blood glucose
respectively, only 49(29.17%) had heard of lipid profile. Also while majority of the women, 91.67%, had ever screened for
their blood pressure, only 16.67% had done lipid profile. Two socio-demographic variables (age and educational status) were
commonly and statistically associated with screening for blood pressure (p=0.002, p=0.0004), blood glucose (P=0.0002,
P=0.001) and lipid profile (P=0.005, P=0.0003) respectively. The study has shown that voluntary routine screening for some
indices of NCDs among the women of child bearing age was influenced mostly by higher education and advanced
reproductive age. Also while screening for some indices (blood pressure and blood glugose) was good, it was abysmally poor
for lipid profile. Considering the contributions of these health indices to the causation of NCDs, it is recommended that the
studied population (women of child-bearing age) should be educated on the imperative of routine screening for these indices
of NCDs for timely detection of derangement and prompt treatment, as component of disease prevention and health
promotion.