Prevalence and Correlates of Behavioral Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases Among Undergraduates in University of Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: There is an increasing prevalence of behavioral risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the youths in low- and middle-income countries. These may later in life lead to chronic diseases with high morbidity, mortality, and undesirable economic impact. Aim: To assess and compare the prevalence of major behavioral risk factors of NCDs between medical and non-medical university students in Enugu, Nigeria. Methods: A questionnaire-based comparative cross-sectional study was carried out among 620 undergraduates of the University of Nigeria using the modified WHO STEPS questionnaire for chronic disease surveillance and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics at the significance level of P < 0.05. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to predict the behavioral risk factors of NCDs. Results: The mean age of all the students was 22.5 +/- 2.9 years. A greater proportion were females (54.8%). Physical inactivity was the most common behavioral risk factor of NCDs and was more prevalent in the medical students (91.0%) compared to 87.4% in the non-medical students. Overall, 95.0% of all respondents had at least one behavioral risk factor. For the medical students, younger age (AOR = 1.80 CI = 1.00 - 3.22, P = 0.049) and parents' lower educational level (AOR = 3.49, CI = 1.29 - 9.40, P = 0.014) predicted the presence of risk factors. For the non-medical students, single marital status (AOR = 3.66, CI = 1.20 -11.19, P = 0.022), lower level of study (AOR =2.92, CI = 1.13- 7.57, P = 0.027) and parents' lower level of education (AOR =6.48, CI = 1.41 - 29.85, P = 0.017) predicted the risk factors of NCDs. Conclusion: Behavioral risk factors were highly prevalent in both groups. There is an urgent need to introduce evidence-based intervention to curb the situation.