Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Periodic Medical Check- Up among Workers at Kaneshie Market in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Periodic medical check-up (PMC) is important for early detection of risk factors associated with the development of diseases and prompt diagnosis of asymptomatic diseases. In Ghana, the daily activities of workers especially market workers are characterized by constant stress, long working hours, without being particularly mindful of their diet coupled with sedentary work life. This puts them at greater risk of developing several chronic diseases and their complication. However, studies on the practice of PMC among workers in Ghana are rare. Appreciation of the prevailing preventive healthcare behaviour of these workers is necessary for making population-targeted health programmes. Thus, this study sought to assess knowledge and practice of Periodic medical check-up among workers at Kaneshie Market in Accra, Ghana. A cross-sectional design involving structured questionnaire administration to 368 workers was employed. A convenient sampling technique was employed in selecting the participants. Stata software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors influencing PMC among these workers. The results showed that the proportion of workers who had knowledge of PMC was 90.8% but the knowledge level did not translate into practice (46.7%). Age (AOR= 4.7; 95% CI=1.92-11.78), sex (AOR= 1.9; 95% CI=1.18-3.13), marital status (AOR= 2.7; 95% CI=1.48-5.15), educational level (AOR= 5.2; 95% CI=2.00-16.78) and knowledge (AOR= 6.2; 95% CI=1.72-11.71) were significantly associated with PMC but profession, religion and income were not associated with practice of PMC. This finding suggest that the practice of PMC among workers at Kaneshie market was low. This is of concern because it may lead to late diagnosis and poor management outcome of several infectious and non-communicable diseases among these workers who form the backbone of the nation’s economy.