Assessment of lifestyle and social related factors in patients with kidney diseases, Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The prevalence of kidney disease is now increasing and contributes to an increased burden of disease to many low income countries’ health systems. The incidence of the disease is estimated to be high and its treatment is unaffordable due to high cost associated with medication and treatment modalities. This brings more challenges especially for patients in low income countries like Tanzania where their low social economic status denies them access to high cost treatment such as dialysis. Aim The main objective of this study was to assess lifestyle and social related factors in kidney diseases patients in Tanzania. Method This study was conducted at MNH; the hospital was purposely selected because it is one of the national referral hospital providing specialized renal services. The target population for this study was all patients who have developed kidney diseases exclude low income unable to afford dialysis. A total of 374 respondents who had renal disorders were included. Data were collected using open and closed questions which were divided into several parts capturing demographic characteristics, lifestyle and social related factors to kidney diseases. Data from questionnaires were cross-checking to detect errors and omissions, coded according to the number of variables and their responses and finally tabulating into the complete dataset. In addition to that, statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20 software program. The data were analyses by descriptive statistics, including the percentages.

Results Findings of the study revealed that the prevalence of kidney disease in this study was more in males (63.6%) than in females (36.4%). Aged between 45 and 60 years were the most group with highest (33.42%) and (28.9%) had age of above 60 years while the rest were below 45 years. Mean while 58% were married and the rest were single, widowed or separated. About 35.8% had primary education followed by 34.5% who had secondary education. The rest either had higher education or did not have any formal education. Existence of previous chronic disease, 25.9% reported to had diabetes mellitus prior to development of kidney disease. With regard to lifestyle related factors, it was found that physical activity a positive effect on any chronic diseases conditions. The number of participants who were physically inactive was higher than that of the physically active. In this study about 27.00% of the participants only reported to exercise daily while 53.7% reported to not exercise at all. Meanwhile majority of participants were having income range between 100,000 Tshs-500,000Tshs per month (44.38%). More than half of the participants were also taking alcohol (55%). About 34.49% of participants indicated to drink more than 3 drinks per day. Weight of an individual on the other hand has shown to be risk of kidney disease; about 44.38% of participants were overweight about 17% were obese. Conclusion It can be concluded that both social and lifestyle related factors identified in this study associated with the kidney disease. These findings supplement the previous findings which were reported by other studies conducted in different parts of the world. More studies are needed and community mobilization in Tanzania to prevent the consequences of these factors that can be modified by the healthy lifestyle practices.