Are risk factors for non-communicable diseases in adolescents a problem in senior high schools in Accra?

Background We assessed risk factors of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents in a senior high school. Design We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2016. Setting Senior High School in Accra. Participants Adolescents in senior high school. Interventions Adolescents were interviewed with a structured questionnaire designed using the WHO STEPS framework. Data on tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity and physical measurements of respondents were taken. Main outcome measures risk factors of noncommunicable diseases among adolescents. Results A total of 360 adolescents in the school were assessed. Mean age was (17±1.21) years with minimum age being 13 and maximum 19 years. Females were 51% (184/360). About 75% (271/360) reported low physical activity, 15% (55/360) were overweight or obese (95%CI: 0.0317-0.078), 7.0% (25/360) consumed alcohol (95%CI: 0.054-0.111) and 2.5% (9/360) smoked tobacco (95%CI: 0.013- 0.048). Majority of the respondents (346/360) were exposed or at risk of developing at least one risk factor. However, no one was found to be at risk of all five risk factors assessed. Females were three times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to their male counterparts (OR:3, 95%CI:1.581-5.624). Conclusion We found that majority of the children had low physical activity and more than 90% of the respondents had at least one NCD risk factor. Funding This work was funded by the authors.