3rd Edition of Preventive Medicine World Conference 2027

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of heart diseases, stroke and kidney related conditions. Hypertension has been linked to increased salt intake and reduced physical activity. Introduction of syllabus regarding non-communicable disease has been included in the secondary level education in Nepal. The proper tool to gauge the physical fitness of adolescents is almost absent in Nepal.

Methods: The cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out in private and public schools of Dhanusha district to investigate knowledge on hypertension, pattern of dietary salt intake and physical fitness of school going adolescents. A self-administered, translated and validated questionnaire and 1 mile walk/run test was employed to complete the study.

Results: A total of 453 participants undertook the survey and 364(80.35%) of the participants were able to complete the 1-mile run. Mean score of 15.86±3.98 was scored by participants in Knowledge regarding Hypertension. Grade of study, gender, school type and location of school were significantly associated with knowledge scores. Only 48.1% of participants knew about recommended daily salt intake. Approximate VO_2max was estimated from BMI, time to complete 1-mile run, age and gender of the participants. Average VO_2max was calculated at 43.28±3.69 and 51.63±4.99 ml/kg/min for female and male participants respectively.

Conclusion: The study calls for the need of dissemination of non-communicable disease informatics, awareness and annual assessment of students regarding their physical health and dietary pattern. Adolescents are likely to undergo multiple changes in their life-time regarding habits and physical fitness, Nepal still lacks universal tool to access physical fitness of adolescents and a standard to compare with internal fitness batteries.