KNOWLEDGE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME, LIFESTYLE RISK BEHAVIOURS AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING KASOA POLYCLINIC, GHANA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
- 1Central Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service.
Abstract
BackgroundMetabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and African studies report a higher prevalence in women than in men. Prevention may depend, in part, on whether women recognise the condition and its modifiable risk factors. Relatively little appears to be known about this among women using primary-level health facilities in fast-growing peri-urban areas of Ghana.
ObjectiveTo assess knowledge of metabolic syndrome, describe lifestyle risk behaviours, self-reported cardiometabolic conditions and preventive practices, and examine selected lifestyle correlates of self-reported diabetes and hypertension among women attending Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana.
MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in June and July 2024 among 174 women aged 18-45 years recruited by convenience sampling. A structured, interviewer-assisted questionnaire covered knowledge, lifestyle behaviours, self-reported diagnoses and preventive practices. Data were summarised as frequencies and percentages, and associations were examined with Pearsons chi-square test.
ResultsOnly 37 women (21.3%) described metabolic syndrome as a condition that raises the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, 40 (23.0%) identified central (apple-shaped) fat as the high-risk pattern and 31 (17.8%) knew that dietary recommendations exist. Most reported no weekly physical activity (116; 66.7%), daily sugary drinks (109; 62.6%), daily processed or fast food (100; 57.5%), high stress (103; 59.2%), and less than six hours sleep (94; 54.0%). Self-reported diagnoses were hypertension in 60 (34.5%) and type 2 diabetes in 49 (28.2%). Fifty-nine (33.9%) had never received advice on prevention and 105 (60.3%) did not monitor their weight or waist. Self-reported diabetes was associated with short sleep (36.2% among those sleeping under six hours; p = 0.035) and with stress level (p = 0.028), being most frequent among women reporting low stress. Self-reported hypertension was more common with high stress (42.7%; p = 0.022) and with some physical activity (p = 0.005).
ConclusionWomen attending this polyclinic appeared to have limited understanding of metabolic syndrome and a high burden of modifiable risk behaviours. Routine counselling on diet, activity, sleep, and weight monitoring at the polyclinic may be warranted. The bivariate, self-reported associations should be interpreted cautiously.
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BibTeX
@misc{aitee2026knowledge,
title = {{KNOWLEDGE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME, LIFESTYLE RISK BEHAVIOURS AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING KASOA POLYCLINIC, GHANA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.}},
author = {G. D.-G. Aitee and E. Owusu and A. N. Cann and E. T. Borkor and A. I. Siddiq and A. P. Kwakye and E. A. K. Ampong},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.14.26365545},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.26365545v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - KNOWLEDGE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME, LIFESTYLE RISK BEHAVIOURS AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING KASOA POLYCLINIC, GHANA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
AU - G. D.-G. Aitee
AU - E. Owusu
AU - A. N. Cann
AU - E. T. Borkor
AU - A. I. Siddiq
AU - A. P. Kwakye
AU - E. A. K. Ampong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.14.26365545
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.26365545v1
AB - BackgroundMetabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and African studies report a higher prevalence in women than in men. Prevention may depend, in part, on whether women recognise the condition and its modifiable risk factors. Relatively little appears to be known about this among women using primary-level health facilities in fast-growing peri-urban areas of Ghana. ObjectiveTo assess knowledge of metabolic syndrome, describe lifestyle risk behaviours, self-reported cardiometabolic conditions and preventive practices, and examine selected lifestyle correlates of self-reported diabetes and hypertension among women attending Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana. MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in June and July 2024 among 174 women aged 18-45 years recruited by convenience sampling. A structured, interviewer-assisted questionnaire covered knowledge, lifestyle behaviours, self-reported diagnoses and preventive practices. Data were summarised as frequencies and percentages, and associations were examined with Pearsons chi-square test. ResultsOnly 37 women (21.3%) described metabolic syndrome as a condition that raises the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, 40 (23.0%) identified central (apple-shaped) fat as the high-risk pattern and 31 (17.8%) knew that dietary recommendations exist. Most reported no weekly physical activity (116; 66.7%), daily sugary drinks (109; 62.6%), daily processed or fast food (100; 57.5%), high stress (103; 59.2%), and less than six hours sleep (94; 54.0%). Self-reported diagnoses were hypertension in 60 (34.5%) and type 2 diabetes in 49 (28.2%). Fifty-nine (33.9%) had never received advice on prevention and 105 (60.3%) did not monitor their weight or waist. Self-reported diabetes was associated with short sleep (36.2% among those sleeping under six hours; p = 0.035) and with stress level (p = 0.028), being most frequent among women reporting low stress. Self-reported hypertension was more common with high stress (42.7%; p = 0.022) and with some physical activity (p = 0.005). ConclusionWomen attending this polyclinic appeared to have limited understanding of metabolic syndrome and a high burden of modifiable risk behaviours. Routine counselling on diet, activity, sleep, and weight monitoring at the polyclinic may be warranted. The bivariate, self-reported associations should be interpreted cautiously.
ER -