Knowledge of chronic disease and food consumption habits among urban poor communities in Accra

Abstract

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) constitute the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The rise in unhealthy diets in Africa has been linked to conditions of health disorder previously seen in regions of greater affluence. The nutrition transition which is the change in diet from those of high nutrition value to those high in fat, sugar and salt is increasing obesity and NCDs globally. Knowledge of disease has been observed to play a crucial role amongst the modifiable risk factors of NCD. This study investigated the association between awareness of chronic diseases and food consumption habits among urban-poor residents in Accra, Ghana. The studies found that majority of the people (about 51%) in these communities have limited and moderate awareness of chronic non-communicable diseases. But awareness was significantly related to food consumption and healthy food consumption was generally low. The study also found that wealth index and locality had effect on healthy food consumption. Some poor individuals in these urban-poor communities also eat healthy foods similar to the rich though in a lesser proportion. Nutritional education programmes aimed at residents of urban-poor communities in order to increase their awareness and knowledge on diet-related chronic diseases was advocated. The study was limited by defining respondent’s knowledge using awareness of chronic diseases. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh