Nutritional knowledge and practice among patients with non-communicable diseases attending Mbale regional referral hospital in eastern Uganda :

Abstract

Background: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people globally each year. Almost three quarters of NCD deaths occur in low and middle income countries. According to Health Management Information System (FIMIS) surveillance, the NCD burden in Uganda is on the rise. Non-communicable diseases are linked to high consumption of energy dense and foods processed with added sugar and salt. The major objective of the study was to determine the level of nutrition knowledge and practices among NCD patients attending Mbale Regional. Referral hospital (MRRH). Materials and Methods: IA mixed methods cross sectional study of 260 participants was conducted in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital among patients attending the NCD clinic from May to July 2017, Quantitative data were collected through structured administered questionnaires and qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews using an interview guide. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Quantitative data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Chi square test and logistic regression Were used to determine the association between lion knowledge and its utilization. Qualitative data was coded first and then summarized according to the themes. Results: Most respondents were female (n= 157, 60.4%) and majority (n=138, 53.1%) were in the age group of 35-59 years. The mean age was 55 years 14) with a range of 19-90 years. Most respondents (n=156, 60%) had a high level of nutrition knowledge, however only 48.8% (n=127) were utilizing the knowledge. Hospital was the main source of nutrition information (n=243, 23.1%), however, only 36% had received information at their last visit. Those with tertiary education had almost 12 times the odds to utilize knowledge on nutrition compared to those who had not gone to school (ORadj 1.86 95% 3.46-40,58 p value=0.000). Those with high knowledge level had almost 2 times the odds to utilize the nutrition knowledge compared with low knowledge level (ORadj 1.98, 95% CI 0.923 - 2.868 p value = 0.0 17). Findings the qualitative study showed that health workers were. not providing nutrition information because of inadequate knowledge on nutrition. In addition, there were inadequate staff and no nutritionist/ dietitian supporting the clinic. The clinic lacked guidelines, policies and information, education and counselling materials. Conclusions: Level of nutrition knowledge is associated with utilization among patients with non-communicable diseases. Health workers do not provide nutrition information to NCD patients because of inadequate nutrition knowledge. This is due to lack of continuous nutritional education and reference materials and inadequate human resources.

Recommendations: Nutrition education programs targeting health workers and NCD patients should be strengthened in all health. facilities in Uganda. The government should recruit more dietitians/nutritionists to work in NCD clinics. Nutrition reference materials should be distributed to all NCD clinics in Uganda.