Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health and development challenges
of the 21st century and currently the burden of NCDs is a significant health issues in Sri Lanka.
Nurses are known to suffer from health problems due to the nature of the work especially NCDs
due to the physical and stressful nature of work. Thus, the study was to determine the
prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases and preventive practices among
nurses at Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH). A cross-sectional descriptive study was
carried out among 384 nursing officers at CSTH in Sri Lanka and participants were recruited
using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a self-administration
questionnaire and anthropometric measures were also taken by using standard measurement
tools. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver.20) statistical software. Ethical clearance was
obtained from the Ethics Review Committees, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri
Jayewardenepura and CSTH. A majority of the participants were females (92.4 %) and the
mean age was 31.49 (±9.02) years. The BMI > 25Kg/m2
was 54.9% and the BMI < 18.5
Kg/m2 was 5.7%. Waist Hip ratio more than the normal among male and female was 48.2%
and 84.5% respectively. The isolated systolic hypertension and chronic hypertension among
all participants was 13.6% and 31% respectively. A majority of participants (82%) had engaged
in light physical activities. Consumption of alcohol was 14.3% among all the participants.
Second-hand smoking exposure was 27.3%. The majority (99%) were consuming deep fried
foods. A considerably high percentage of females (70.9%) were not attending cervical cancer
screening and self-breast examination (43.6%). Risk factors for NCDs among nurses at CSTH
were high among the study population. Thus, education programmes on screening tests and
lifestyle modification need to be implemented to prevent NCDs.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health and development challenges
of the 21st century and currently the burden of NCDs is a significant health issues in Sri Lanka.
Nurses are known to suffer from health problems due to the nature of the work especially NCDs
due to the physical and stressful nature of work. Thus, the study was to determine the
prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases and preventive practices among
nurses at Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH). A cross-sectional descriptive study was
carried out among 384 nursing officers at CSTH in Sri Lanka and participants were recruited
using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a self-administration
questionnaire and anthropometric measures were also taken by using standard measurement
tools. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver.20) statistical software. Ethical clearance was
obtained from the Ethics Review Committees, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri
Jayewardenepura and CSTH. A majority of the participants were females (92.4 %) and the
mean age was 31.49 (±9.02) years. The BMI > 25Kg/m2
was 54.9% and the BMI < 18.5
Kg/m2 was 5.7%. Waist Hip ratio more than the normal among male and female was 48.2%
and 84.5% respectively. The isolated systolic hypertension and chronic hypertension among
all participants was 13.6% and 31% respectively. A majority of participants (82%) had engaged
in light physical activities. Consumption of alcohol was 14.3% among all the participants.
Second-hand smoking exposure was 27.3%. The majority (99%) were consuming deep fried
foods. A considerably high percentage of females (70.9%) were not attending cervical cancer
screening and self-breast examination (43.6%). Risk factors for NCDs among nurses at CSTH
were high among the study population. Thus, education programmes on screening tests and
lifestyle modification need to be implemented to prevent NCDs.
