Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) becoming a major public health problem in developing countries where it is responsible for more than twice deaths combined with HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. The social and economic burden of CVDS in developing countries is more intensifying compare to developed countries because of higher prevalence of these diseases among economically active or working age population [1-3]. Studies have reported an increase in the prevalence of risk factors plays a crucial role in higher burden CVD in developing countries [2]. It is a well-established fact that most of the chronic diseases including CVDs shared common risk factor which includes physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking, and alcohol use [4,5]. Additionally, the major causes of death are associated with modifiable risk factors particularly excessive alcohol and tobacco use, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, unhealthy diet, high lipids and diabetic mellitus [6-8].

These risk factors yield because of unhealthy lifestyle which often refers to lifestyle-related risk factors [9]. Both developed and developing countries witnesses the increase in a number of lifestylerelated risk factors such as excessive smoking, tobacco, and alcohol consumption, a poor dietary habit among adult and adolescents [4,10]. Studies have shown that various risk factors which are developed during adolescence period continue to adulthood, for example, unhealthy dietary habits which continue adulthood have a detrimental impact on health and associated with CVDs later in life. On the other hand, development of healthy lifestyle during adolescent plays a significant role to protect the onset of chronic disease including cardiovascular diseases [11].

The non-communicable disease risk fact STEPs Survey 2013 reported that both modifiable behavioral risk factor and biological risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, raised blood pressure, blood glucose level, cholesterol, triglycerides were highly prevalent among Nepalese population. About 18.5% of study populations of STEPs survey were current smokers. Among all people who smoke, age group 15-29 accounted for 11.4 percent smokers with 20.7 percent and 2.7 percent smokers respectively. The mean age of initiation of smoking among the age group of 15-29 is 16.8. The survey reported that 17.4 percent study participants among all people who drink alcohol 21 percent were aged between 15 and 29. The proportion of people who drink daily among age group 15-29 accounted for 8.1 percent. It is also reported that altogether 14 percent of the people involved in the moderate and low level of physical activity recommended by World Health Organization. About 21.6 percent of the respondent are overweight or obsess in Nepal whereas 10.4 of the respondent are underweight. About 5.3 percent respondents selfreported hypertension. However, 42.7% of people have never measured their blood pressure by any health workers. Similarly, 27 percent people are currently on medication for a raised level of cholesterol (≥ 190 mg/dl) which is higher among 30-40 age groups [12].

Studies reported that association of CVD risk factor among young people increase the risk of mortality [13,14]. For example, especially sedentary behaviors are associated with cardiometabolic disease risk among associated with CVDs mortality [15]. However, studies have recognized that adolescent is the time period to prevent cardiovascular disease earlier to the entrenchment of risky behaviors [5]. Furthermore, World Health Organization recognized the importance of educating young people as primordial prevention to prevent chronic disease including cardiovascular diseases.

The aim of this study is to assess and identify the level of knowledge and cardiovascular disease risk attitude among 15-19 years age students of grade 11^th and 12^th in Lekhnath Municipality.

The institution base quantitative cross-sectional study was adopted by this study which was conducted between August and October 2012. The study populations for this study were students’ age between 15 and 19 years of higher secondary schools of Lekhnath Metropolitan City. Proportionate multistage cluster sampling technique was adopted for this research as shown in (Figure 1). The study population was divided into two groups based on their class i.e grade 11 and grade 12 followed by clustering of the respondent according to various academic stream base on their proportion.

Figure 1: Sampling flowchart.

Sample size calculation

The sample size of the 778 is calculated using flowing technique;

NZ²P (P-1)/d² (N-1) + NZ²P (P-1)

Where,

n = sample size correction with finite population

N= total number of population

d= precision

p= expected proportion

Z= Z statistic at level of confidence

n=2016 × 1.96² × 0.5(1-0.5)/0.052(2049-1) + 2049 × 1.96² × 0.5(1-0.5) =354

Using aforementioned formula sample size is calculated as 324. It has been assumed that 20 percent of the respondents will not response thus sample size will be adjusted for 20 percent nonresponse (324+65=389). Furthermore, because of clustering sampling techniques, the size is further adjusted 389×2=778. Thus the final sample size is 778 students.

Scoring of instrument

Altogether twelve fact-based statements consisting nine modifiable and two non-modifiable statements were used to access the level of knowledge about various risk factors of CVD, which is further categorized based on Bloom’s cut of points. If respondents responded 80% of statement correctly is categorized as a good level of knowledge followed by (60-80%) and less than 60%, fair and poor level of knowledge respectively.

Similarly, altogether nine statements were used to access the CVD risk attitude towards. Among nine statements, six statements contain undesirable information about CVD while three statements consist affirmative information. CVD risk-seeking attitude refers if more than 80 percent respondent affirms undesirable’s statements and disaffirm affirmative information while CVD risk adverse attitude refers if more than 80% affirm affirmative information and disaffirm undesirable statements.

Out of 783 respondents (Table 1), 51.9% were students’ of grade 11 and 48.1% of grade where, half of the respondents studied Management (62.7%), followed by Education (21.7%), Science (8.2%) and Humanities (7.4%). The mean age of the respondents was 16.85 years where more than half of the respondents (71.0%) were middle adolescence and rest 29.0% were late adolescence. Out of the total sample, 53.8% of the respondents were female and 46.2% of the respondents were male.

Table 1: Socio demographic characteristics of the study population.

Table 2 shows that audio-visual aids are the major source (40.5%) of the health information. 91% of late adolescents get health information from health personal while 82.3% of middle adolescents received health information from audio aids.

Table 2: Source of health information.

Almost all of the respondents (94.6%) opted different subject than health and physical education in grade nine and ten as the second elective subject. Regarding the query, whether they had ever known anyone (family/friends/relatives) diagnosed with CVD, the majority of the respondent responded (57.7%) yes and remaining 42.8% responded doesn’t aware of persons with CVDs.

Table 3 summaries the overall knowledge level of responded regarding major CVD risk factors. About 70%, 80% and 74%, a correctly recognizes or aware that high blood pressure, Tobacco use, high fat, and cholesterol intake as CVD risk factors simultaneously.

Table 3: Knowledge regarding major risk factors for CVDs.

It is interesting to see that more than 87% aware of the fact that enough green vegetables and fruits reduce the risk CVDs.

However, a significant percentage of the respondents don’t have the correct information and adequate information about other major CVD risk factors such salt intake, physical inactivity, diabetes etcetera.

Table 4 summarizes the respondent attitude towards major cardiovascular diseases risk factors. Majority of the respondents shared the cardiovascular diseases risk-seeking behaviors. For instance, about 85% of having cardiovascular risk-seeking behavior regarding excessive alcohol consumption, similarly more than 75.5% people is not cautious about their green vegetable and fruit intake. These riskseeking behaviors have similarly associated with the majority of the risk factors.

Table 4: CVDs risk attitude.

Factors

Table 5 summarized the cardiovascular disease risk and knowledge level of CVDs risks factors. Only small percentages (11%) of the respondent have a good level of knowledge regarding CVD risk factors.

Table 5: CVDs risk Attitude and knowledge level regarding CVDs risk factors.

Majority of the respondent (53.3%) have fair knowledge where just one-third of the respondents have a good level of knowledge. On the other hand, approximately there a quarter of the respondents (71.9%) have a cardiovascular risk-seeking attitude.

Figure 2 shows the relationship between knowledge level about cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease risk attitude. It is seen that a positive correlation between knowledge score and attitude score (Spearman’s rho=0.137) which is highly significant at 0.01 level (p=<0.001). The median for knowledge score was 16 (IQR, 14-18). Similarly, median attitude score was 26 with IQR between 24 and 29.

Figure 2: Knowledge versus attitude score scatter plot.

Majority of the respondent were not aware of the major cardiovascular disease risk factors. Among all major cardiovascular diseases risk factors knowledge regarding high BP, tobacco consumption, smoking, and high fat intake was comparatively higher. On the other hand, people are less aware of the fact that less physical activity, higher salt intake, diabetes, and obesity could lead to the risk of cardiovascular disease in later period life. Similarly, the majority of the respondents have cardiovascular risk seeking attitude which is serious threat and challenge for the public health. It is important to increase the awareness of the major CVD risk factor as the level of knowledge and CVD risk attitude is closely associated.

This study does not find any statistical significance between respondent caste, economic status, respondent’s educational choices and father education. However, it is quite interesting to see that mother’s education level and respondents’ level of knowledge of CVDs risk factors showed statistically significant (P=0.002). However, Bike Kocaoglu et.al reported that low social economic status and lower parental educational was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, though it fails to establish causal association because of cross sectional study design [16]. It has seen the significant gender difference in the level of knowledge of CVD risk factor where boys possessed more good knowledge compared their female counterpart. The reason behind this would be boys exercise more power, freedom and have access to information because of patriarchal normal and values [17]. Slightly more than a quarter of respondent has CVD risk adverse attitude which means these people are conscious to protect their health and take fewer risks. This study has shown that people who have a higher level of knowledge on CVD risk factor tend to take fewer risks. Thus, it is important aware adolescent about the major CVD risk factor so they can protect themselves from the potential of developing CVD in their late life. These finding is quite similar to finding of study which was conducted in Kathmandu district of Nepal where Yadav et al. reported that only 36.8 adolescent had good knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk factors [17]. However there is no further explanation why adolescent lacks knowledge regarding CVDS risk factors [17]. An audio videos aid seems more effective way to disseminate cardiovascular disease information. Though other studies have shown that school is the proper place to an aware adolescent about CVD risks factors but these studies have shown that only 10 percent have received health information from teachers. However, there is a slight discrepancy that why more (62.3%) middle adolescent reported teachers as a source of health information while only 37.7% of adolescents refers teachers as their source of health information. Similarly, this study showed no significant difference in the level of knowledge (X2=0.851, P=0.653) between the adolescents who opted health education as their second elective subject. Thus the reasons for this discrepancy need to further explore. Furthermore, this study is limited to students of grade 11 and 12, so it is necessary to explore knowledge level of other student studying on a different level and as well as out of school students.

Majority of adolescents in this study does not have sufficient knowledge about major cardiovascular diseases risk factors. In addition, majority of the adolescent in this study have shown cardiovascular risk taking attitude which can leads to adaptation of cardiovascular risk prone behavior and lifestyle. Respondents’ cardiovascular risk adverse attitude was closely connected with knowledge of various cardiovascular risk factors. Thus it is necessary to increase adolescents’ knowledge about various risk factors to interruption the extensive social and economic impacts. Audio visual aids were identified as major source of health information among adolescents so wider user of these means were recommended to reach more adolescents however it is also equally recommended to explore and use teacher and school curricular to disseminated cardiovascular health information among school going adolescents. In addition cardiovascular risk attitude and knowledge level among out of school adolescents is identified as an area which needs further exploration.