A.H.M.Mufas(1), A.H.M.Rifas(2), A.H.L. Fareeza(3) and O.D.A.N.Perera(1) Nutrition knowledge on diet­related chronic non communicable diseases among the graduates from South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (1) Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka. ( E­mail: [email protected]) (2) Department of Islamic studies, Faculties of Islamic Studies and Language, South eastern University of Sri Lanka. (3) Department of Management, Faculty of Management studies and commerce, South eastern University of Sri Lanka. Abstract - The Purpose of this study is to understand of individuals plus households and early retirement, all the nutrition knowledge of the graduates on diet have a great impact on the economic productivity of a related chronic NCDs. A descriptive cross sectional country, bringing about the spiral of ill health and study was undertaken among 200 graduates of south poverty (Abegunde and Stanciole, 2006; Suhrcke et al., eastern university to assess the nutrition knowledge. 2005). Knowledge level analyzed with socio-demographic It has been projected that, by 2020, NCDs will characteristics. Overall knowledge of graduates was account for almost three-quarters of all deaths poor; not a single graduate identified with good worldwide, and that 71% of deaths due to ischemic knowledge. Gender, home area, religious group, heart disease (IHD), 75% of deaths due to stroke, and marital status of the respondents turned out to be not 70% of deaths due to diabetes will occur in developing associated with the knowledge level of the graduates countries (Barker et al, 1993a). The number of people (p>0.05). in the developing world with diabetes will increase by Keywords- Nutrition knowledge, NCDs, Diet, more than 2.5-fold, from 84 million in 1995 to 228 Graduates million in 2025 (Barker et al, 1993b). On a global basis, 60% of the burden of chronic diseases will occur in developing countries. In Sri Lanka, diet-related chronic Introduction NCDs currently account for 18.3 percent of all deaths Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also and 10.2 percent of public hospital expenditures (but known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person 16.7 percent of all hospital expenditures). The current to person. They are of long duration and generally slow loss attributable to diet-related chronic disease is in progression. The four main types of non- estimated as 0.3 percent of GDP. In 2025, chronic communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases diseases are expected to account for 20.9 percent of all (like heart attacks and stroke), cancers, and diabetes deaths. Currently, dietary factors account for 10-20 (WHO, 2011). NCDs have an impact on individuals percent of these chronic diseases. By 2025, dietary and families; they also affect economies, health factors (particularly overweight) will increase in structures and societies. Amongst the many importance to account for 18-40 percent of chronic implications of NCDs – reduced life expectancy, disease, and the importance of low birth weight as a overall reduction in consumption, income and savings predisposing factor will increase (Popkin et al, 2001) [1] Proceedings of the Third International Symposium, SEUSL: 6-7 July 2013, Oluvil, Sri Lanka Even though the genetic factor involving in the recommendations. Hence the study was carried out chronic NCDs, it is highly influenced by many with the objective of assess the nutritional knowledge environmental factors such as: Unhealthy foods: on diet related chronic NCDs among graduate students contain high-salt content, high-sugar content, high and to identify the source of knowledge on diet related trans-fatty acids, saturated fat and by sedentary life chronic NCDs among graduates. style. Since the traditional Sri Lankan diet is vegetable based, a large proportion of adults (82%) do not consume adequate amount of vegetables. Despite the Methodology availability of an abundance and variety of fruit in Sri A descriptive cross sectional study was Lanka, the average consumption is found to be undertaken to assess the nutrition knowledge on diet- inadequate. Despite a modest consumption of fat related chronic NCDs among graduates of south (15%-18%) by the Sri Lankans, higher percentage of eastern university of Sri Lanka, mainly in the field of saturated fats is included in the diet compared to arts, commerce and science. Purposive sampling unsaturated fat. Higher saturated to unsaturated fat method was used to select 200 graduates from different ratio is an important risk factor for development of area. Fifty (50) graduates from each batch from each cardiovascular diseases. The daily intake of salt (10g faculty (Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of /day) and added sugar (60g/day –based on food Management studies and commerce, Faculty of arts, consumption data, 35 g/day based on individual Faculty of Islamic studies and Arabic language) were dietary records) is also high in Sri Lankan diet when recruited. Equal number of males and females were compared to WHO recommendations. Physical selected from each faculty. inactivity in moderate is a protective factor against many NCDs. Majority of Sri Lankans (78 %) are Self administrated questionnaire containing 36 engaged in moderate or higher level physical activities questions [Knowledge of Applied Nutrition (KN), (> 600 Metabolic Min /Week). However, only a small Knowledge of Food Preparation (KP) and Perceived proportion is engaged regularly in recreational activity. Confidence in Cooking Skills (PC)], (Whati, 2005) was Female are significantly sedentary (30%) compared to used to collect data from respondents. The questions males (19%) and this is also reflected in the higher were directed towards gaining information regarding mean BMI of the former. Alcohol consumption, graduates’ knowledge on diet-related chronic NCDs, Percentage of current drinkers is significantly higher sources of information, and socio demographic in males (26.0%) compared to females (1.2%). characteristics of the subjects. Knowledge was assessed However, less than five percent of male population by using score system. Data were analyzed by using takes alcohol more than 4 days per week (Ministry of descriptive statistics and SPSS software package. Healthcare and Nutrition Sri Lanka, 2009). World Health Organization has proposed a Results and discussion number of actions to address the problem of unhealthy Preparation of questionnaire to check the eating behaviors. Among these recommendations, nutritional studies in a particular target group is a educating the people is expected to be more effective difficult task. Further, preliminary studies were to control the diet related chronic NCDs. It is widely conducted to choice the questions to include them in practiced in many developed countries, in the school the final questionnaire. Preliminary study describes an level as well as in the university level. evaluation of validity and reliability measures in a Graduates are the most important section in the questionnaire designed to assess knowledge of society. In future they are going to be the policy makers nutrition in graduates participating in this research, for in the country. Therefore it is important to estimate the that, 60 basic nutritional questions were included in nutritional knowledge on the diet- related chronic the questionnaire and was provided randomly to the NCDs among the graduates, since there is a deficiency graduates (Whati, 2005). in that knowledge we can make necessary [2] A.H.M.Mufas, A.H.M.Rifas, A.H.L. Fareeza and O.D.A.N.Perera Nutrition knowledge on diet-related chronic non communicable diseases among the graduates from South Eastern University of Sri Lanka Table 4: Number and percentage of study of two times, the final questionnaire was sources of knowledge in which the prepared with 36 questions (Anderson, 2002). respondents received information on diet‐ related chronic NCDs. Table 2: Overall knowledge on diet related Source of information * Number(N) Percentage chronic NCDs according to the background News paper 129 64.5 variables (N=200) Magazine 110 55.0 Characteristics Number(N) Percentage Television 93 46.5 Faculty Internet 78 39.0 Faculty of Applied Science 50 25.0 University 57 28.5 Faculty of Management Health personals 43 21.5 studies and commerce 50 25.0 Leaflets 25 12.5 Faculty of arts 50 25.0 Radio 21 10.5 Faculty of Islamic studies and Family 17 8.5 Arabic language 50 25.0 Nutritionist/ dietitian 7 3.5 Age (years) Others 5 2.5 26-29 77 38.5 30-33 56 28.0 Table 2: Overall knowledge on diet related 34-37 67 33.5 chronic NCDs according to the background Gender variables (N=200). Male 100 50.0 Characteristics Knowledge Significane Female 100 50.0 Poor (%)* Home area Satisfactory (%)* Urban 113 56.5 Faculty Semi urban 40 20.0 2 Faculty of 17(34.0) 33(66.0) X =46.007 Rural 47 23.5 Applied 126(84.0) 24(16.0) df = 1 Science Other p=0.001 Religious group faculties Muslim 168 84.0 Gender Hindus 20 10.0 2 Male 74(74.0) 26(26.0) X =0.613 Christian 12 6.0 Female 69(69.0) 31(31.0) df = 1 p=0.433 Buddhist 0 0.0 Home are Nutrition knowledge may influence dietary Urban Semi 79(69.9) 34(30.1) X2 =0.322 behavior directly or through nutrition attitudes. urban / Rural 64(73.6) 23(26.4) df = 1 Dietary behavior may further become dietary patterns p=0.570 and influence one’s nutrient intake. Therefore, Religious group understanding people’s nutrition knowledge, attitudes, Muslim 120(71.42) 48(28.5) X2 =0.003 Others 23(71.87) 9(28.12) df = 1 and behavior is the basis for nutrition education p=0.959 (Stanek and Sempek, 1990; McIntosh et al, 1990). Marital status Studies on nutritional knowledge in Sri Lanka are very Single 95(68.84) 43(31.16) X2 =1.545 rare, among them; there is no such research on the Married 48(77.41) 14(22.58) df = 1 knowledge of graduate students on diet-related chronic p=0.214 non communicable diseases done in the past years.