Knowledge and exposure to non-communicable disease risk factors amongst undergraduates in the University of Lagos

Abstract

Context: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are known as chronic diseases which are of long duration and progress slowly. There has been increasing evidence of NCDs amongst university students, youths and adolescents. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception and exposure to the risk factors for NCDs amongst students of the University of Lagos. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study carried out amongst non-medical Undergraduates of the University of Lagos. Materials and Methods: About 413 respondents were recruited into the study using multi-stage sampling. A Google link containing a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was shared amongst respondents to obtain data from them. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS version 27 was used to analyse the data. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.8 ± 2.1 years with a proportion of females-to-males at almost 1:1. The majority (73.1%) of the respondents had good knowledge of NCDs and almost two-thirds (64.4%) of the respondents had a right perception of the risk factors of NCDs, respectively. More than two-thirds of the respondents (67.2%) were exposed to at least one risk factor of NCDs. Variables that are statistically significantly associated with exposure to the risk factors of NCDs are gender (P = 0.000), employment status (P = 0.000), religion (P = 0.013), income (P = 0.000), knowledge of NCDs (P = 0.002) and perception of NCDs (P = 0.000). Conclusions: This study has shown that while the level of knowledge of NCDs is satisfactory amongst the undergraduates, many of the respondents engaged in one or more risk factors that could lead to the development of NCDs.