Knowledge of Non-Communicable Diseases and Risk Factors among Final Year Students in a Tertiary Institution

Background and Objective: Chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly emerging as leading causes of morbidity and premature mortalities globally, with greater effect being felt in low and middle income nations. As poor health behaviours practised in youthful years have been implicated in developing NCDs in later years in life, It is important to understand the level of awareness of young people regarding NCDs in order to remedy any knowledge gaps and encourage healthy practices among them that will reduce the burden of these diseases in later life. This study seeks to describe the knowledge of two groups of final year students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria on the awareness and knowledge of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey at the University of Lagos, Nigeria during the 2017/2018 academic session. A sample size of 422 final year students were used with convenient stratification. Self administered questionnaires was distributed to the class of students who consented to participating in the study. The questionnaires were used to assess the level of awareness of the students of non communicable diseases and their risk factors. Data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results: A result of 94.7% was obtained. The results show 89.5% versus 65% of students in health related discipline (college of medicine campus) and those in Akoka campus respectively had good knowledge of NCDs and their risk factors while 10.5% versus 35% had poor knowledge.

Conclusion: Students in the campus of college of medicine had more knowledge of NCDs and their risk factors. Campus location of students had statistically significant relationship with awareness and knowledge on NCDs. (p, <0.05).