Associate Professor, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Koirala Institute of Health Sciences Dharan, Nepal
*Corresponding author- Shyam Lamsal, Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Online published on 29 August, 2017.
Cardiovascular disease is a major global health problem, with the majority of the burden occurring in the developing countries. The World Health organization currently attributes one-third of all global deaths due to Cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the South East Asia Region (SEAR) CVD accounts for 29% of all deaths and 11% of disease burden.
The study aims at assessing the awareness on prevention of cardiovascular problems among students of higher secondary schools of Chandannath municipality, Jumla.
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to conduct the study. A total of 200 samples from two government higher secondary schools within the Chandannath municipality were taken using stratified population proportionate sampling to calculate sample from different streams and systematic random technique for sample selection. Data were collected using predesigned, pretested and validated self-administered questionnaire developed by investigator. Data was analysed through SPSS 16 and descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, median, IQR, percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi square test and Mann Whitney “U” test).
The findings of the study revealed that 51% of the respondents had adequate awareness regarding cardiovascular health problems. Around three-fifth of the respondents (63.50%) were from age group (17–19) years and majority of the respondents (68%) were female. There was association (p=0.005) between awareness and family history of cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, there was significant association between awareness and variables like age (p=0.008), exposure to mass media (p=0.025) and exposure to curricular content related to CVD (0.008).
The study recommends the need for detailed curriculum-based health education regarding prevention of CVDs in schools as well as motivation of the children to incorporate healthy lifestyle practices into their daily lives.
Knowledge, practice, attitude, cardiovascular health problems
