Background & objectives Non communicable diseases (NCD) have emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in India in the past few decades. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of NCD risk factors among adults residing in urban slums of West Bengal, India. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population aged 15-69 yr in urban slums of Purba Burdwan district, West Bengal over a period of two months. A total of with 180 study participants selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured schedule, adopted from the WHO STEPS questionnaire. Analysis was done using Chi-square test and logistic analysis. P<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results The prevalence of alcohol intake, smoking, inadequate vegetable and fruit intake, reduced physical activity and overweight and/or obesity was 27.8, 15.6 , 93.3 , 32.8 and 15.5 per cent, respectively among the study population. A significant association of smoking was found among males [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.54 Confidence interval (CI):1.76-6.99], those living in joint families (AOR 1.24 CI:1.17-1.34) and without any formal education (AOR 3.22 CI:1.50-13.87). The odds of alcohol consumption alcohol, were higher among those aged >44 yr (AOR 1.98 CI:1.34-7.22), males (AOR 2.65 CI:1.89-8.76), those who had no formal education (AOR 1.43 CI:1.23-2.77) and those who were employed (AOR 1.34 CI:1.02-4.09). Again respondents aged 45-69 yr (AOR 4.45 CI:1.79-10.99) and married (AOR 3.77 CI:1.76-7.44) were associated with overweight and or/obesity. Furthermore, age AOR 5.04 CI:1.34-17.98) and employment status (AOR 1.78 CI:1.67-3.09) were significantly associated with raised blood pressure in multivariate analysis. Interpretation & conclusions The high prevalence of risk factors of NCD in the study population is suggestive of a need for health promotion by creating awareness about the dangers of smoking and alcohol consumption as well as educating the people about the benefits of physical activity and eating a healthy diet.
Keywords: Alcohol; WHO STEPS; non communicable disease; risk factors; slums; tobacco.