Diet-Related Lifestyle Diseases: Awareness of Persons in Selected Occupations in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

Diet and lifestyle are major factors thought to influence susceptibility to many diseases. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of awareness of people in selected occupations in the Cape Coast Metropolis on diet related lifestyle diseases. It aims at examining the knowledge of persons about diet-related lifestyle diseases, lifestyle practices of persons in relation to diet-related lifestyle diseases, association between level of knowledge of diet-related lifestyle diseases and lifestyle practices, differences in knowledge of diet-related lifestyle diseases among persons with different socio-demographic factors, and differences in lifestyle practices among persons with different socio-demographic factors A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of 378 respondents were sampled for the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 377 workers. An interview schedule was used as instrument for collecting data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence were used to analyse the data. The study found that respondents did not have full knowledge about the constitution of diet-related lifestyle diseases as well as their causes. The recent diet-related lifestyle diseases that are common in the Metropolis were blood hypertension, kwashiorkor, ulcer, obesity and diabetes. Similarly, the number of people adopting alcohol as a lifestyle practice increases as the ages increase. The study recommends that the Metropolitan Directorate of Health should educate the populace on the constitution and the causes of diet-related lifestyle diseases