Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factor survey 2014 among staff at one workplace in Barbados

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of NCD risk factors at a specified workplace in Barbados. DESIGN AND METHODS: An interviewer administered questionnaire comprised of Core and some “Expanded” questions from the validated PAHO/WHO STEPS NCD Risk Factor Survey was conducted over a three-week period in June 2014 at a specified workplace. Standardized measurements were taken for height, weight, blood pressure, and hip and waist circumference. RESULTS: There was a 57.8% (70/121) response rate; 37.1% male and 62.9% female, with a mean age of 31.7 years (SD 8.0), age range 19 – 54. It was found that 95.7% of respondent staff had at least one of the identified risk factors; 76.9% of males and 54.5% of females were either overweight or obese. Most of the staff (91.4%) ate less than 5 servings of fruit and/or vegetables on average per day (88.5% males, 93.2% females). Comparison of study population with the Barbados population shows close correlations for most of the risk factors with some exceptions like binge drinking. Almost half of respondents (44.7%) (60.9% males, 29.2% females) engaged in binge drinking when compared to 25.3% and 5.4% in Barbadian males and females respectively in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms a similar high prevalence of NCD risk factors among staff as observed among the Barbadian population. The study reveals opportunities to increase workplace health promotion and evidence-based national standards for the management of major NCDs through a primary care approach.