Awareness about Non Communicable Diseases and Role of Nutrition among an Urban Resettlement Population of Delhi

Globally, World health statistics 2012 have reported that one in three adults has raised blood pressure and one in ten adults have diabetes. Present study is a community based cross sectional study, carried out in an urban resettlement colony in Dakshinpuri Extension of South Delhi during the months of March and April 2010 with household as the sampling unit. A total of 389 households were studied. An interview schedule was developed and pre tested consisting of socio-demographic profile and knowledge and practices KAP component. A total of 389 individuals were interviewed. Of the total, 57 % were females and 43% were males. Mean age of the study participants was 40.05 (S.D±15.2 years) with a median per capita income of Rs. 900 per month. More than 80 % of the study participants had heard of the words diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Most of the respondents considered that lifestyle plays a role in the development of NCDs. Less than 40 % of the respondents know about the role of nutrition in the development of NCDs. Nearly half of the respondents regarded diabetes and hypertension as a serious illness. According to 68.3 %, 57 % and 69 % of study participants, medical treatment is appropriate for hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease. The rest resorted to untrained health care providers. Prevalence of self reported diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease were 13.5 %, 20.6 % and 3.9 % respectively.