Prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in a Rural Population of South India

Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which also bear the greatest morbidity and mortality, is rising in developing countries. Demographic and epidemiological transitions taking place in the developing countries of Asia is shifting the disease burden from communicable towards non-communicable disease. India's poor are at heightened risk of acquiring NCDs owing to high rate of smoking and tobacco use. So this paper analyses the links between socioeconomic status and non communicable diseases in rural area.

Objectives:

1. To study the prevalence of NCDs among study population.

2. To study the association between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of NCDs.

Material and Method: Cross sectional study was carried out in our field practice area of Chunampet, Kancheepuram district among 1200 consenting population who were above 20 years with the help of semi structured and pretested questionnaire. Association between NCDs risk factors and socio economic status was studied. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version.

Results: Out of 1200, 100(8.6%) of the respondents were found to have diabetes. 149(12.4%) were hypertensive, 82(6.8%) had cardiovascular diseases, 259(21.6%) were obese and 285(23.8%) were overweight. 899 (74.9%) of the study population had high salt intake in diet, 126(10.5%) were smokers, 178(14.8) consumed alcohol. Ischemic heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, high salt intake were statistically higher in lower socioeconomic group (p<0.05) than upper and also high burden was found among illiterate population than literates (p<0.005).

Conclusion: NCDs were high in lower socioeconomic groups and illiterates. Hence policy and programme should focus among these populations.